All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has named three uncapped players in his expanded 44-man squad for a blockbuster eight-game tour against world champions South Africa seen weathering Trump tariffs as global trade tightens”>South Africa.
Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika No.8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Chiefs five-eighth Josh Jacomb have all made the cut as the New Zealand selectors retained all the players who featured in wins against France, Italy and Ireland this month.
“He’s got a genuine point of difference,” Rennie said of the rugged Tupou Ta’eiloa.
“We haven’t got sort of the big, powerful loose forward like him, and yes, he’s really destructive defensively, and he carried Moana on his back a lot this year, so yeah, we think it adds a point of difference as well.
“Ardie (Savea) speaks really highly of him. So yeah, look, it’s exciting. It’s a really good story, isn’t it? It’s someone who may be playing in a side that’s battling can stand out the way he did. So, really pleased for him.”
Lauaki, 23, is a genuine bolter after being stuck behind All Blacks props Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi and Xavier Numia at the Hurricanes.
