All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has selected three uncapped players among 10 additions to his squad for a four-test series against Rugby World Cup champions South Africa starting next month.
Rennie has increased his Nations Championship squad of 34 players to 44 for a tour that comprises three tests and four other matches in South Africa, plus one test in the United States. All 34 players from New Zealand's Nations Championship squad — which beat France, Italy and Ireland — have been retained.
The new caps are Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika backrower Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa and Chiefs flyhalf Josh Jacomb. The other additions are prop Ollie Norris, hooker George Bell, lock Fabian Holland, backrower Ethan Blackadder, centres Timoci Tavatavanawai and Rieko Ioane and wing Emoni Narawa.
The tour marks a return to old-fashioned touring with weekend and midweek matches, the norm before the professional era began in 1995. New Zealand will face the Stormers in Cape Town on Aug. 8, the Sharks in Durban on Aug. 12, the Bulls in Pretoria on Aug. 16 and the Lions in Johannesburg on Aug. 26, plus tests against South Africa in Johannesburg on Aug. 23, Cape Town on Aug. 30, Johannesburg again on Sept. 6 and Baltimore on Sept. 13.
South Africa are ranked No. 1 and New Zealand No. 2 in the world, and the series is being billed as reviving rugby's "greatest rivalry." "This tour will challenge us and demand the very best of us," Rennie said. "With eight matches in six weeks, including a four-test series against the Springboks, this would have to be the toughest tour in rugby."
The All Blacks have won only one test series on a South Africa tour — in 1996 — after failed attempts in 1928, 1948, 1960, 1970 and 1976. The teams have met 110 times in tests, with New Zealand winning 63, South Africa 43 and four drawn.
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