Dave Rennie selects All Blacks players 'desperate to make an impression'

The first match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour will introduce two new faces and re-introduce plenty more to the black jersey, with New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie beginning the historic tour with what he describes as a group “desperate to make an impression.”

There is 563 Tests of experience across the selected starting XV, with 144 of those belonging to pivot Beauden Barrett, and another 85 on the bench. However, none of the nine players who started each of the July fixtures has been named in this matchday 23.

Rennie said the selection over the coming two weeks, ahead of the first Test match of the tour against the Springboks, will give all players in the 44-man squad a chance to audition for the big games.

“The first three games give us a chance to create competition for places for that first Test side,” he explained to reporters in Cape Town. “The fact that everyone will get a chance to play is a real buzz within the group.”

Before even announcing the squad, the coach revealed that he and his selectors had already decided who would play in each game of the tour. Rennie expanded on the selection ideology after announcing his first team.

“We’ve picked the teams to play in these games. We’ve already made little changes, some based on injury and some where we’ve changed the emphasis of that group,” the coach shared.

“If you look at this group, there are a number of guys who have returned from injury recently, or didn’t play a massive amount of footy in that Nations Championship series. But, if you look at the side, it’s pretty experienced too. You’ve got a guy like Beauden Barrett, who didn’t play a part in that (Nations Championship) but has been training out of his skin and is ready to go.

“We think it’s a really good blend. It’s a strong side, but a number of guys in there will be desperate to make an impression.”

Fixture

Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies

Stormers

10:00

7 Aug 26

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

The coach added that with the quick-fire nature of the tour, “the guys who aren’t playing have only got to wait four days” for their chance.

Elsewhere in the team, a hard-earned return has been sealed for Ethan Blackadder, whose last game for the All Blacks was against the Springboks in Johannesburg in 2024. The 31-year-old has been selected in an impact role, covering a starting loose trio of Simon Parker, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi.

Rennie said all he wanted to see from the Crusaders workhorse was more of what he produced during the Super Rugby Pacific season.

“He’s a competitor, got a massive engine, he does a lot of the work under the radar that maybe a lot of people don’t necessarily see or appreciate. We certainly do. What we know is we’ll get a lot of repeat efforts out of him, and generally, what he does creates a lot of opportunities for others.”

Casting his eye over his whole team, Rennie said the upcoming games against South Africa’s club sides are all about growth and further embedding the game plan he has brought in since taking charge earlier this year.

“We just want to build on what we’ve done over the past three games. We’ve had a little bit more time together, and that’s been good, but there are some new combinations.

“We’re going to play against a side that was very competitive in the URC, will be excited about the potential of an international scalp, and so that makes them dangerous.

“This is just about us getting better. We’ve got a Test match only around the corner, and we know we’ll need to be better against them than we were in the previous three Tests.”