Sir John Kirwan believes Rennie's decision to shift Tupou Vaa'i to blindside and bring Patrick Tuipulotu into the lock berth is driven squarely by what awaits in South Africa next month. His core argument is straightforward: the All Blacks cannot afford to concede the collisions battle against the Springboks, and the Welsh test — where the Boks barely met resistance before the advantage line — is the blueprint of what not to do. Kirwan sees the slightly reduced loose-forward athleticism as a worthwhile trade for raw size and lineout options, and expects the Vaa'i-Tuipulotu combination to stay in place for the Rivalry tour. For Bok fans, this is a useful read on how Rennie is calibrating his selections specifically around Rassie's pack.
AnalysisSpringboksPlanet Rugby
Kirwan: All Blacks pack reshaping is all about the Boks
Kirwan argues Rennie's forward reshaping — Vaa'i at blindside, Tuipulotu at lock — is a deliberate response to Springbok physicality, with the All Blacks' selection increasingly shaped by what awaits them in South Africa.
- New Zealand
- Springboks
- Wales
- Rassie Erasmus
- Rugby Championship
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