Coach Dave Rennie has picked three debutants in the 44-strong All Blacks squad to tour South Africa, while captain Ardie Savea won’t join the side until the first test.
Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika loose forward Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Chiefs first-five Josh Jacomb are the uncapped players in the line-up.
They are joined by seven returning All Blacks in prop Ollie Norris, hooker George Bell, lock Fabian Holland, flanker Ethan Blackadder, midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and outside backs Rieko Ioane and Emoni Narawa.
Rennie said the uncapped trio had earned their call ups.
“We are thrilled for those players who will have the opportunity to pull on the All Blacks jersey for the first time, and welcome back those who are returning to the group.”
Skipper Savea has been granted an extended break following the July series and won’t join the team in South Africa until before the first test, meaning he’ll miss the three non-test matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls. Savea has played more than 18 months of non-stop rugby after spending a season in Japan directly after last year’s end of year All Blacks tour.
Rennie said the non-test games will give other leaders in the squad a chance to step up as captain.
“Ardie has carried a massive workload in the last couple of years and we think it is best for him to have an extended break so he can come back ready to lead us into the Test series. We have a number of excellent leaders in our squad who will embrace the chance to captain the side.”
All 34 players from the Nations Championship squad that beat France, Italy and Ireland earlier this month have been retained. There is again no room in the squad for the Hurricanes loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi and Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham.
Rennie said the entire 44-man squad, which includes 25 forwards and 19 backs, would be required to play during the tour.
“This tour will challenge us and demand the very best of us. We have selected a squad that we know is up to the challenge. It’s a balanced blend of experienced Test players and a cohort of younger players who will be keen to work hard and showcase their skillset on tour.
“With eight matches in six weeks, including a four-Test series against the Springboks, this would have to be the toughest tour in rugby. Every player will be required to play their part across this tour, whether it’s preparing to play or helping their mates prepare.”
Rennie believes the tour will be invaluable for the All Blacks as they build towards the ultimate goal of winning next year’s World Cup in Australia.
“It will be an intense seven weeks of touring but an excellent opportunity for us to pit ourselves against the current benchmark team in world rugby, and to build connections with each other in a way that only a tour of this scale can do. What we learn about ourselves on and off-field will set us up well for the Rugby World Cup in 2027,” Rennie said.
The All Blacks will kick off the tour in Cape Town on 8 August (NZT) against the Stormers, who finished near the top of the United Rugby Championship (URC) regular season standings.
They will play the Sharks in Durban four days later and then head to Pretoria to take on URC grand finalists, the Bulls, on 15 August.
The first Test against the Springboks is on 22 August at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park, followed by the final franchise game against the Lions at the same venue on 25 August.
The second and third Tests will be at DHL Stadium in Capetown and FNB Stadium in Johannesburg respectively.
Both teams will then travel to America to play the fourth and final Test in Baltimore, Maryland – the first time the rivals have played each other on US soil.
The squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby Club, province, Test caps): * denotes new cap
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 22)
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 109)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (28 / Chiefs / Waikato / 44)
George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)
Ethan De Groot (27 / Highlanders / Southland / 43)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 26)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 2)
Ollie Norris (26 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)
Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 51)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 37)
Pasilio Tosi (27 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 17)
Siale Lauaki * (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)
Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 47)
Patrick Tuipulotu (33 / Blues / Auckland / 57)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 15)
Sam Darry (26 / Blues / Canterbury / 10)
Fabian Holland (23 / Highlanders / Otago / 12)
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 10)
Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 8)
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 14)
Luke Jacobson (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 27)
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 2)
Ardie Savea (32 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 109) (Captain)
Wallace Sititi (23 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 21)
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa * (22 / Moana Pasifika / Southland / 0)
Cameron Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 20)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington / 1)
Ruben Love (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 8)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 144)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 77)
Josh Jacomb * (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 81)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 26)
Billy Proctor (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 13)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 90)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 2)
Caleb Clarke (27 / Blues / Auckland / 35)
Fehi Fineanganofo (23 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 7)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 2)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 57)
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 88)
Emoni Narawa (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 4)
Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett and Leicester Fainga’anuku.
