All Blacks name squad for first test against Springboks in Johannesburg
The All Blacks have announced their squad for the upcoming test against the Springboks in Johannesburg, featuring the return of several key players. Cam Roigard, Will Jordan, and Damian McKenzie are set to start, with Ardie Savea resuming captaincy duties.
McKenzie, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, will start at fullback. Savea, Roigard, and Jordan will make their first appearances of the tour against the Springboks. Savea and hooker Codie Taylor are both slated to play their 110th Test matches.
Coach Dave Rennie has maintained the loose forward trio from last month’s match against Ireland, with Savea at number eight, Luke Jacobson at openside, and Tupou Vaa’i at blindside. The front row will consist of Taylor at hooker, supported by props Tyrel Lomax and Ethan de Groot. In the second row, Fabian Holland and Josh Lord have been named to start.
The backline sees Roigard at halfback, Ruben Love at first-five, and Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea in the midfield. Jordan and Josh Moorby will play on the wings. The reserves bench includes a 5-3 split of forwards and backs, featuring Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Leroy Carter.
Squad Selection and Expectations
Coach Rennie expressed the squad’s anticipation for the first test, noting the blend of experienced and younger players chosen for the match. He highlighted that the initial three franchise games in South Africa have been beneficial in preparing newer players for the style of play adopted by South African teams and in developing team combinations.
Rennie acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating that the test series would be a significant step up. He emphasised the team’s awareness of the pressure from the Springboks, who are currently ranked first in the world and will be playing at their home ground. Anton Segner and Josh Moorby are set to play against South Africa for the first time.
The All Blacks have a long history with the Springboks, having played 110 times, with 63 wins, 43 losses, and four draws. Their first encounter was in 1921 in Dunedin, which the All Blacks won 13-5. The most recent match between the two teams was in Wellington, where the Springboks secured a 43-10 victory.
Historical Context
The All Blacks have played the Springboks at Ellis Park 16 times, with South Africa winning ten of those matches and the All Blacks winning six. This year marks the 13th Test series between the two nations, with the series ledger currently tied at five wins each, following two drawn series in 1921 and 1928.
The Springboks won five of the next seven series up to 1976. New Zealand‘s home victories came in 1956 and 1965, having lost at home in 1937. The All Blacks have won the last three series, in 1981 and 1994 at home, and in 1996 in South Africa, marking their first away victory in a series against the Springboks.
Both teams are currently ranked first and second in the men’s world rankings. They have collectively won seven of the ten Rugby World Cups contested since the tournament’s inception in 1987. The All Blacks claimed the Webb Ellis Cup in 1987, 2011, and 2015, while South Africa won it in 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2023. Two of these finals were direct contests between the two rivals, with South Africa winning 15-12 after extra time at Ellis Park in 1995 and 12-11 at Stade de France in 2023. South Africa did not participate in the first two Rugby World Cup tournaments in 1987 and 1991.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:10 PM local time in Johannesburg.
Source: allblacks.com
Charlotte Reid 