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All Blacks coach shares Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland update ahead of SA tour
reporting from Auckland
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Dave Rennie has provided All Blacks fans with positive and negative news around the fitness of locking duo Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland, ahead of the Greatest Rivalry Tour to South Africa.
Rennie addressed media in preparation for Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday, where both teams will look for their third straight Nations Championship victory in its inaugural season.
But it’s news for August’s four-Test, four-domestic game tour to South Africa that will grab the headlines, with the All Blacks set to name an extended squad of 44 in less than two weeks’ time.
The All Blacks coaching staff have the luxury of adding ten extra players to their 34-man squad named for the three July Nations Championship fixtures, while some players may not be picked from Rennie’s initial squad.
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Someone who won’t be part of the travelling All Blacks squad to South Africa will be Crusaders lock Scott Barrett, who was the previous captain under former head coach Scott Robertson.
Barrett didn’t feature at all for the Crusaders in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, having an extended non-playing sabbatical after the 2025 international season.
The 89-Test All Blacks lock was set to return for the Christchurch-based Super Rugby franchise at some point during the 2026 season, but a couple of minor niggles ruled him out of the whole season.
When asked about the South Africa tour in Auckland on Monday, Rennie confirmed Barrett wouldn’t play a part at all.
“No, Scott Barrett won’t be available for any of the South African tour.”
But, in more positive news for the All Blacks and the coaching staff, World Rugby Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year Fabian Holland is tracking well to be involved.
“Fabian’s a chance, so he’ll have hit out for Otago early before we name the team.”
“Look, Fabian’s rehab’s been excellent. He’s in good nick. We’re keeping a good eye on stuff. We’ve got video footage of what he’s been doing.
“Will just be nice for him to get some game time in for Otago, and then hopefully be available.”
The makeup of the squad will be announced a week after the Ireland Test at Eden Park, something which Rennie and the coaching staff have been working hard to finalise.
“Yeah, we’ve spent a bit of time on that because, as you say, about a week after the Irish test, we’ve got to name a squad of 44,” Rennie said.
“So there’s 10 others that’ll come in, it’s a likely six-four split, but maybe not, maybe seven-three. Yeah, and we’ve picked a potential group, and then it’ll depend on how guys get through.”
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