Planet Rugby has run the ruler over Rennie's likely line-up for the All Blacks' RGR tour opener against the Stormers in Cape Town. The headline call is Barrett wearing the armband — the most experienced player in the touring squad and one Rennie has already confirmed will start. With McKenzie and Jordan not expected to feature, Jacomb gets the nod at 15 with Barrett slotting in at 10. The midfield pairing of Proctor and Tavatavanawai is built around physicality — the latter led Super Rugby Pacific for defenders beaten — while Fineanganofo, the joint-leading try-scorer in that competition, starts on the left wing. Up front, the second row of Darry and Holland is notable given both are returning from serious shoulder injuries, and hooker depth is already under pressure with Bell (calf) joining Codie Taylor on the injured list. The bench is projected as a 6-2 split, with debutants Lauaki and Tupou Ta'eiloa among those expected to get early tour minutes.
All Blacks predicted XV for Stormers opener: Barrett to captain, Jacomb at fullback
Planet Rugby predicts Barrett captaining the All Blacks against the Stormers, with Jacomb at 15, a powerful midfield in Proctor and Tavatavanawai, and a bench featuring two likely debutants — all against a backdrop of injury disruption to New Zealand's hooker stocks.
Both camps agree: Friday's Stormers-All Blacks clash is a test match in all but name
Both camps are treating Friday's Stormers-All Blacks tour opener as a de facto test match — driven by internal All Black selection pressure, a 50-year gap since WP last hosted the All Blacks, and the Cape Town venue's importance to the test series.
Rennie backs full-scale SA tour to sharpen All Blacks ahead of four-test series
Dave Rennie says the All Blacks' first full-scale South African tour in 30 years will benefit the whole squad, with provincial fixtures giving fringe players game time and a four-test series against the Springboks offering iterative tactical development. Test captain Ardie Savea joins the group before the Johannesburg opener on August 22.
Jake White: Henry's All Blacks return is a 'masterстroke' — and he's no ordinary selector
White calls Henry's return a masterstroke — not because of his selector credentials, but because of the psychological and cultural weight he brings to a rebuilding All Blacks camp. White also makes a pointed broader argument about the game's failure to learn from history, using his own 2007 World Cup experience as a case study.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
Hooker targeting All Blacks opener after shoulder surgery, July Tests ruled out
Ethan Hooker is targeting the opening All Blacks Test in The Greatest Rivalry series after shoulder surgery, with the 23-year-old ruled out of all July Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.