Planet Rugby's winners-and-losers breakdown of Rennie's squad for the series decider in Soweto identifies Lakai, Aumua and Carter as the selection beneficiaries, while Rieko Ioane is the headline omission — passed over for the bench despite a strong tour form. The piece argues Rennie's most revealing call is resisting a 6-2 bench split, with Moorby keeping his spot despite being unused in Cape Town. On the tactical side, the analysis flags Blackadder's illness-enforced absence as genuinely costly given his Lions performance, and notes that the continued unavailability of De Groot and Lord — both still out after the Wiese collision — leaves the All Blacks exposed at scrum and lineout precisely when referee Amashukeli is expected to be far stricter than Gardner was in Cape Town. Tuipulotu's drop from the 23 is framed as a consequence of the lineout dysfunction rather than a personal failing.
All Blacks third Test selection: Who gains, who loses — and what it means for Soweto
A winners-and-losers read on Rennie's Soweto selection — Ioane's snub, the 6-2 bench decision, and why De Groot and Lord's absence could be decisive given the referee change.
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.
Barrett ruled out of South Africa tour with back injury requiring surgery
Scott Barrett faces back surgery and is ruled out for up to five months, missing the four-Test series against the Springboks in August and September as well as the July Nations Championship Tests — with his All Blacks captaincy already under question ahead of Dave Rennie's first squad announcement.
Junior Boks take World Cup confidence from NZ dogfight
Foote and Norton reflect on what a grinding draw against New Zealand reveals about where the Junior Boks are — and what still needs fixing — ahead of their World Cup title defence in Georgia.
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.