With Rennie set to name a 44-man squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour, the headline selection story is the expected inclusion of Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa — the Moana Pasifika back-rower who finds himself club-less after the franchise's collapse but very much on New Zealand Rugby's radar. The piece points to his 2026 Super Rugby numbers as the justification: 182 post-contact metres, top-ten overall despite playing fewer games than most above him. The All Blacks' coaching group reportedly believe he has a higher ceiling with proper conditioning. The wider context is a loose forward depth chart with genuine question marks — Sititi was dropped for the Ireland Test after a below-par showing against Italy, Lakai hasn't replicated his Hurricanes form at Test level, and Savea is being managed through the tour. Tupou Ta'eiloa's profile — explosive, physical, effective off the gain-line — fits the bench role Rennie seems to be reshaping, given his stated preference for a non-traditional bench split. The piece frames his bolter selection as both a short-term insurance policy for Savea's managed workload against the URC franchises and a longer-term signal about where the All Blacks see their loose forward depth developing.
All Blacks bolter Tupou Ta'eiloa adds loose forward intrigue ahead of SA tour
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa — the Moana Pasifika back-rower left club-less after the franchise folded — is reportedly set to be included in Rennie's 44-man SA touring squad, with his post-contact numbers and physical profile making him an ideal bench option as the All Blacks manage Savea's workload and navigate a loose forward depth chart that showed real cracks during the Nations Championship.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
World Rugby scraps home weighting from rankings calculations ahead of Nations Championship
World Rugby removes home weighting from rankings calculations from July 1, responding to the growing number of international matches played at neutral or out-of-country venues. South Africa remain top of the men's rankings on 93.94 points.
World Rugby scraps home weighting in first rankings overhaul since 2003
World Rugby will eliminate home weighting from its rankings points calculation from July 1, 2026 — the first major change to the system since its 2003 introduction — citing the surge in Tests played at neutral venues, including the Springboks vs All Blacks Baltimore clash.
Fainga'anuku's broken leg rules him out of Nations Championship and clouds Springbok series availability
Leicester Fainga'anuku faces 10 to 12 weeks out after fracturing his fibula in the Crusaders' semi-final defeat to the Chiefs, ruling him out of the Nations Championship and casting doubt over his availability for the opening Tests against the Springboks.
White: This Bulls squad is better equipped — and they know they can't waste this chance
Jake White makes a personnel-driven case for a Bulls upset on Friday, pointing to five returning Test-calibre starters as the difference from last year's final — while urging the squad to treat this as the chance they may not get again.