Planet Rugby breaks down Rennie's 44-man squad for the South Africa tour, identifying who's benefited and who's been left frustrated. On the winners' side, three uncapped players earn their first call-ups — prop Siale Lauaki for his scrumming versatility, young back-rower Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa despite coming from a bottom-placed Moana Pasifika, and Chiefs fly-half Josh Jacomb as a reward for a strong Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Fabian Holland's recovery from serious shoulder injury earns him a recall after a breakthrough year that included the World Rugby young player award. Savea's managed rest — he'll miss the provincial matches and possibly the Bulls game — is flagged as a potential masterstroke, with Codie Taylor named tour captain for the early legs. Among the losses, Du'Plessis Kirifi's omission is labelled one of the biggest shocks despite leading the Hurricanes' title run, with Rennie citing his limited versatility as the decisive factor. Lio-Willie and uncapped Casey also miss out in a competitive back-row pool. The injury picture is grim: Scott Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku (broken leg) and Tamaiti Williams (spinal infection) all sit out the entire tour.
All Blacks' Greatest Rivalry squad: The standout calls and notable snubs
A detailed winners-and-losers breakdown of Rennie's 44-man All Blacks squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour — covering the uncapped inclusions, Savea's managed rest, Kirifi's shock snub, and the injury absences that will shape the Test series against the Springboks.
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.
Hansen's Right to Back Himself — But the Boks' Five-Match Streak Tells a Different Story
Jean de Villiers acknowledges Hansen's logic but argues last year's results and performances make it hard to see the All Blacks closing the gap on the Boks — and the panel get genuinely animated over what a 2-2 series tiebreaker would even look like.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.