For the Saffa tour squad.

Drop your predictions below.

Personally I’d go with:

1. Bell
   
2. Norris
   
3. Tu’ungafasi
   
4. Hannah
   
5. Holland
   
6. Kirifi
   
7. Hotham
   
8. Tavatavanawai
   
9. Ioane
   
10. Hutchinson

Interesting article and what it means for NZ

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2026/07/21/lions-to-face-italy-as-part-of-2029-tour/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_tw_post_as-part-of-2029-tour/

tldr:

- Not finalized but strong chance Lions play Italy first followed by playing France

- 8 match tour to NZ

Lions can only play max of 10 matches.

Article suggests 3 tests vs ABs and 5 matches against 5 Super Rugby sides. It means the NZ Maori match misses out.

How do you feel about that?

Counties Manukau & North Harbour to follow

sustained power I mean

All the ticket prices feel outrageous and I wonder if it’s due to resale. But I’m finally in a place in my life where I can afford to go. Let me know if you know anything!

Did this game 10 months ago cost Richie Mo’unga a spot on the plane to South Africa?

Canterbury lost the shield to Otago.

Had they won (and defended it once more), presumably they defend it against Mid Canterbury this weekend. Richie plays, becomes eligible for the All Blacks and is selected in the squad on Monday.

CLARIFICATION: I AM NOT SUGGESTING TUIPULOTU PLAY SIX, BUT THAT HE CAN FILL MUCH OF THE KAINO ENFORCER ROLE FROM LOCK.

I’ve previously viewed Tuipulotu as a specialist bench impact player due to his powerful carrying and abrasive defence. In the weekend he had a great test starting against Ireland, and provided the sort of powerful close quarter ball carrying that our game really needs, and did so for 60 odd minutes IIRC.

That has me thinking it’s a shame he couldn’t play 6 as we have long searched for that sort of abrasive ball carrying, aggressive tackling athlete that can dominate the gain line with and without the ball and provide a solid lineout option.

I’m not suggesting that he plays six, I’m suggesting that he can fill most of that role from the lock position which maximises his strengths but negates his weaknesses that would be exposed in defence, ie not fast enough off scrums in attack or defence. That then free’s up the 6 to be a tall rangy athlete, like vaii, that can carry out in the wider channels. A lot of teams in Europe, and South Africa are using the tight head lock position to pick freakishly large athletes that can be used as reliable gain line carriers add significant value in the scrum and as lifters in the lineout. Putting that type of athlete in the back row, perhaps would expose their lack of pace in attack and defence, so lock is the best role for it, and just pick a rangy lineout operator at 6.

In summary, we have been looking for a hard carrying and defensive hitting lineout option at 6 since Kaino retired. We have been unsuccessful in part because ABs 6s have played a wider rangier role in attack in the last decade. That Kaino style enforcer role is actually best filled by picking a large and physically dominant tight head lock, even if that sacrifices some lineout prowess. Tuipulotu is currently our best suited athlete to fill that role and should start.

A while back saw a post that NPC wont be shown on Stan

https://www.reddit.com/r/allblacks/comments/1tegx8i/stan_has_cut_npc/

I just saw fixtures for round 1 on Stan Sport so that's pleasing!

I'm really keen to see what the make up of this 44 man squad looks like along with what the 23 for the midweek games look like.

I'm assuming that the Sharks and the Lions games (both mid week games) will be our less strong team due to quicker turn arounds between matches. We play the Lions during the week between the match 1 and match 2 of the springboks so our strongest team definetly wont play, I'm also unsure about the 3 back to back URC teams we will play. Im guessing a fairly strong team for the Stormers and Bulls, then a weaker side for the sharks?

Assuming that the current 34 are named, we are looking at an extra 10 players. Im thinking we will need an extra 7 forwards and 3 backs due to the workload that will be required from our forwards. I drew up what a stronger 23 (same team as the Ireland game plus Holland) and a midweek 23 could look like. Of course we will see variations of this, but it was fun to think about.

* denotes named in match day teams (Preston and ALB)

+ denotes addition in the 44 man squad (not included in original 34)

Midweek team:

1. Bower
2. Samisoni
3. Tosi
4. Darry
5. Lord
6. Parker
7. Kirifi +
8. Sititi
9. Ratima 
10. Millar / Jacomb +
11. Carter
12. Tavatavanawai +
13. Proctor 
14. Fehi
15. B .Barrett (c)
16. Bell + 
17. Norris +
18. Ofa + 
19. Hannah +
20. Blackadder +
21. Preston *
22. Rieko +
23. ALB *

Weekend 23:

1. De groot
2. Taylor 
3. Lomax
4. Holland +
5. Tuipulotu 
6. Vaii
7. Jacobson
8. Savea (c)
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. McKenzie 
16. Aumua
17. Numia
18. Newell
19. Segner
20. Lakai
21. Preston *
22. ALB *
23. Clarke

So the additional 10 looks like:

Two props: Norris, Ofa

1 hooker: Bell

2 locks: Holland, Hannah 

2 loosies: Kirifi, Blackadder

Backs: 

One first five: Millar / Jacomb

One midfield:  Leicester 

One outside back: Rieko

Keen to hear your thoughts. There is a lot of speculation. Its risky bringing only 3 half backs. I'm not sure if they would bring a forth.

I feel might also be short an outside back cover. Perhaps Chay Fhaki, Narawa (if not injured) or Jacob RK will be named in place of Rieko or Leicester?

Hey everyone,
I was the tour manager for AIG at the 2018 Rugby Sevens in San Francisco and have an authentic adidas New Zealand All Blacks Sevens jersey signed by the 2018 championship squad.

Listing it for sale. Has anyone seen one like this, or have an estimate of what it might be worth?
If selling posts are allowed here, I messaged the mods but haven’t heard back yet. I’d be happy to post it. It’s on eBay.

All Blacks backline should be:

1. Ruben Love

2. Reiko Ioane

3. Caleb Clarke/Quinn Tupaea

4. Jordie Barrett

5. Will Jordan

6. Damien Mckenzie

There. Problem solved.

All Blacks need a big ball carrier at 12. Jordie is good, but not menancing.

We need that 'mongrel' raw aggression

putting fear into opp defence lines. Clarke is the man.

Bring back the Nonu/Smith combo we all deep down miss and cherish.

Rennie, show some sense and make the shuffle to backline. Elephant in the room.

Cheers

Now that the dust has settled a clearer picture has been painted.

*Proctor third choice, Quinn and ALB top 13's, Mr "I can do everything" Moorby may even end up there.

*6/2 bench is a go with Moorby as starting 11, guy looks a born AB

*Savea way better when playing tighter, second man in following Jacobsen helps high ruck speed and leaving T.Vai to take that wide channel runner role, draws more defenders than Savea does with his diminishing pace.

*Inventive role for Love, essentially a distributor and Jordie the playmaker at 12, Loves line kicking is spectacular, often carving off 50, Foster and Razor were contempt with 20 M for safety.

*Aumuas presence can not be denied, Taylor to move to the mid-week captain spot. Samisoni ans Asafa to battle for the 2 jersey.

Asafa should also take over from Savea as our tap restart guy, guys is a human missile.

*Can still see Patty T as the bench option, Lord and a fit Fabian to fight for the second spot as Darry will be a starter.

*Goal line D still spongey and soft, that is priority work for Umaga, was never his specialty so may need to resource some specialist coaching

This guy is an embarrassment how The All Blacks haven't told this idiot to STFU is beyond any reasonable mind and self respecting rugby supporter.

Lmk you’re thoughts

Unavailable due to Injury:
Scott Barrett ( Taranaki/ Crusaders )
Tamaiti Williams ( Canterbury/ Crusaders )

Props ( 7 )
Ethan De Groot ( Southland/ Highlanders )
Tyrel Lomax ( Tasman/ Hurricanes)
Fletcher Newell ( Canterbury/ Crusaders)
Pasilio Tosi ( BOP/ Hurricanes )
Xavier Numia ( Wellington/ Hurricanes )
George Bower ( Otago/ Crusaders)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi ( Auckland/ Blues )

Hookers ( 5 )
Codie Taylor ( Canterbury/ Crusaders )
Asafoa Aumua ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Samisoni Tauke’aho ( Waikato/ Chiefs )
George Bell ( Otago/ Highlanders)
Brodie McAlister ( Canterbury/ Chiefs)

Locks ( 6 )
Tupou Vai’i ( Taranaki/ Chiefs )
Josh Lord ( Taranaki/ Chiefs)
Patrick Tuipulotu ( Auckland/ Blues )
Fabian Holland ( Otago/ Highlanders)
Jamie Hannah ( Canterbury/ Crusaders)
Sam Darry ( Canterbury/ Blues )

Loose Forwards ( 8 )
Ardie Savea (C) ( Wellington/ Kolbeco Steelers )
Peter Lakai ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Simon Parker ( Waikato/ Chiefs )
Anton Segner ( Auckland/ Blues )
Du’Plessis Kirifi ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Luke Jacobson ( Waikato/ Chiefs)
Ethan Blackadder ( Tasman/ Crusaders )
Wallace Sititi ( North Harbour/ Chiefs)

Half Backs ( 4 )
Cameron Roigard ( Counties Manukau/ Hurricanes)
Kyle Preston ( Wellington/ Crusaders )
Cortez Ratima ( Waikato/ Chiefs)
Noah Hotham ( Tasman/ Crusaders)

Fly Half ( 3 )
Ruben Love ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Beauden Barrett ( Taranaki/ Blues)
Damien McKenzie ( Waikato/ Chiefs)

Centres ( 5 )
Jordie Barrett ( Taranaki/ Hurricanes)
Billy Proctor ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Reiko Ioane ( Auckland/ Leinster )
Anton Lienert- Brown ( Waikato/ Chiefs)
Timoci Tavatavanawai ( Tasman/ Highlanders )

Back 3 ( 6 )
Caleb Clarke ( Auckland/ Blues )
Josh Moorby ( Waikato/ Hurricanes )
Fehi Fangoanofo ( BOP/ Hurricanes)
Leroy Carter ( BOP/ Chiefs)
Will Jordan ( Tasman/ Crusaders)
Leicester Faingaʻanuku ( Tasman/ Crusaders)

Injury Cover
Props
Ollie Norris ( Waikato/ Chiefs)
Marcell Renata ( Northland/ Blues)
George Dyer ( Waikato/ Chiefs )

Hooker
Bradley Slater ( Taranaki/ Blues )
Kurt Eklund ( BOP/ Blues )

Lock
Fiti Sa ( Taranaki/ Chiefs)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi ( BOP/ Chiefs)
Josh Beehre ( Auckland/ Blues )

Loose forwards
Lucas Casey ( Otago/ Highlanders)
Christian Lio-Willie ( Otago/ Crusaders)
Cullen Grace ( Canterbury/ Crusaders)
Shannon Frizell ( Tasman/ Highlanders)

Half back
Finlay Christie ( Tasman/ Blues )
Adam Lennox ( Taranaki/ Highlanders)

Fly half
Richie Mo’unga ( Canterbury/ Crusaders)
Josh Jacomb ( Taranaki/ Highlanders)

Centre
Daniel Rona ( Taranaki/ Chiefs)
Xavi Taele ( Auckland/ Blues )

Wing
Kini Naholo ( Taranaki/ Hurricanes)
Cody Vai ( Auckland/ Blues)

Fullback
Chay Fihaki ( Canterbury/ Crusaders)
Callum Harkin ( Wellington/ Hurricanes)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki- Kneepkens ( Taranaki/ Highlanders)

I saw this interview post match and thought it reflected the importance of having good leaders in the team, leaders with mana.

A lot of people don't understand (or pretend not to understand) the value of mana but this is a good example of it. Love performed admirably tonight and pushed himself to the limit despite an injury, without mana its a lot harder to get that level of performance and commitment out of people.