Jeff Wilson has flagged loosehead prop as a potentially decisive vulnerability for the All Blacks heading into their four-Test series against the Springboks later this year. Tamaiti Williams is almost certainly out for 2026 after a serious spinal infection, Tu'ungafasi's future is unclear with his contract expiring and an offshore move looming, and that leaves Ethan De Groot, George Bower (24 caps), and three-cap Ollie Norris as New Zealand's loosehead options against the most destructive Springbok scrum in memory. Wilson's warning is blunt: get exposed at scrum time against this Bok pack, and it's going to be a long season.
The contrast with South Africa's prop stocks is stark. Nche, Steenekamp, Wessels, and Venter cover the loosehead side, while Louw, Du Toit, Malherbe (returning from injury), Koch, and a string of new caps provide layered tighthead depth. Erasmus can mix and match across both sides of the scrum — the All Blacks have no such luxury. For Bok fans, this is a detailed breakdown of exactly where New Zealand is most exposed ahead of a series that promises serious set-piece warfare.