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Today

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International

All Blacks name two potential debutants in first team of RGR tour

Ned Lester

Published: 5 August 2026 08:00 PDT
Updated: 5 August 2026 08:01 PDT

Josh Jacomb of the Barbarians during the Qatar Airways Cup match between South Africa and Barbarians F.C at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

A historic tour is just days away from gracing the rugby world’s screens for the first time in 30 years, and New Zealand have revealed which 23 men will bring down the curtain against the Stormers in Cape Town.

The matchday squad features two potential debutants on the bench, Hurricanes powerhouse prop Siale Lauaki and Chiefs pivot Josh Jacomb, while World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Fabian Holland returns from injury to start in the second row alongside stand-in captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

The game will also present eagerly awaited opportunities to each of the three members of the July squad who didn’t see any game time, Beauden Barrett, Simon Parker and Kyle Preston, with the first two named in the run-on side and the latter set to enter the game off the bench.

VIDEO

Rieko Ioane has been named on the left edge after missing selection in July following a URC-winning sabbatical with Leinster, while fellow squad newcomers Ollie Norris and Ethan Blackadder join the impact unit.

As for the more familiar faces in the team in 2026, the front row features George Bower, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Pasilio Tosi, while Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi join Parker in the starting loose-forward trio. Cortez Ratima joins Barrett in the starting halves combination, with Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor holding down the midfield. Leroy Carter joins Ioane on the wing, and Josh Moorby is set for his first start at fullback. Asafo Aumua, Sam Darry and Caleb Clarke complete the bench unit.

“Firstly, I want to congratulate the new All Blacks Siale and Josh. It will be a very exciting and proud day for them and their families,” All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie said.

“We’ve had a great welcome in Cape Town, and we’re excited to get this tour underway.

“We are really pleased with how our leaders, including match-day captain Patrick and tour captain Codie, have prepared the group. We can’t wait for Friday.

“We’re well aware of how good this Stormers side is. They made the semifinals of the United Rugby Championship last year, and they are a big, physical side with a mix of talented youngsters and Springboks, so we are preparing for a real war of attrition.”

Fixture

Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies

Stormers

21 - 38

Full-time

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

All Blacks team to play the Stormers

George Bower (26, 0)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (44, 0)
Pasilio Tosi (17, 0)
Fabian Holland (12, 0)
Patrick Tuipulotu (57, 2) (Captain)
Simon Parker (8, 0)
Peter Lakai (10, 0)
Wallace Sititi (21, 0)
Cortez Ratima (24, 0)
Beauden Barrett (144, 1)
Rieko Ioane (88, 0)
Anton Lienert-Brown (90, 1)
Billy Proctor (13, 0)
Leroy Carter (7, 0)
Josh Moorby (2, 0)

Reserves

16. Asafo Aumua (22, 2)
17. Ollie Norris (3, 0)
18. Siale Lauaki *
19. Sam Darry (10, 0)
20. Ethan Blackadder (14, 0)
21. Kyle Preston (1, 0)
22. Josh Jacomb *
23. Caleb Clarke (35, 0)

Comments

82 Comments

SB 44 days ago

B team with 3 potential starters in test 1. Holland, Tuipulotu and Moorby.

Mid 44 days ago

I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict a comfortable AB win here, by five scores or more.

The Stormers have shown over several seasons that they are the team of soft moments; a slipped tackle, a skew line-out, a silly knock-on and the opponents are out of sight.

Lou Cifer 44 days ago

Stormers would need to play out of their skins to lose by less than 20 imo. Solid ABs team….can’t wait!

Hammer Head 45 days ago

Anything less than 20 points to the ABs (possibly even a blowout by 80) would be a massive surprise to me.

The Stormers shouldn’t trouble the ABs at all beyond 40 minutes.

So the pressure (and my money) is on the ABs to win.

Don’t f#ck it up now boys!

JW 45 days ago

You lost me with the pressure bit.

PickOllyMathisForAfricaTour,Dave 45 days ago

Cohesion will be a bit of an issue but damn theres some talent in that side.

These guys will be very, very motivated.

Cant wait to see to Siale and Jacomb get on, but most excited about black adder. I think he'll carve up when he gets on.

B 45 days ago

SRPacific players v URC Stormers…

Blues (5)

Chiefs (8)

Crusaders (3)

Highlanders (1)

Hurricanes (6)

Go the AB’s…a well balanced first XV and bench to start the tour off…

cnw 45 days ago

Nice B team.

Wayneo 45 days ago

My combined best 23 selected from both squads:

1. George Bower (All Blacks)

2. André-Hugo Venter (Stormers)

3. Neethling Fouché (Stormers)

4. Adré Smith (Stormers)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu (All Blacks)

6. Deon Fourie (Stormers)

7. Peter Lakai (All Blacks)

8. Evan Roos (Stormers)

9. Cortez Ratima (All Blacks)

10. Beauden Barrett (All Blacks)

11. Rieko Ioane (All Blacks)

12. Anton Lienert-Brown (All Blacks)

13. Billy Proctor (All Blacks)

14. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers)

15. Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

16. Samisoni Taukei'aho (All Blacks)

17. Ntuthuko Mchunu (Stormers)

18. Pasilio Tosi (All Blacks)

19. Fabian Holland (All Blacks)

20. Wallace Sititi (All Blacks)

21. Hacjivah Dayimani (Stormers)

22. Imad Khan (Stormers)

23. Josh Moorby (All Blacks)

JW 45 days ago

Wow you have picked some shocking ABs their Wayneo, is it that bad?

Over the sideline 45 days ago

At least dreams are free.

Chiefs Mana 45 days ago

Respectfully, you have domestic players ahead of a 44 test All Black in Samisoni and two world breakthrough players of the year in Sititi and Holland. Happy to be proved wrong but that’s outrageous.

SC 45 days ago

A very strong but B team with no first team XV players in it (minus Calab Clarke on the bench). Front row all third string, second row second string (until Holland is fully match fit), second string loose forwards, second string halves, second string midfield, second string outside backs.

ABs vs Sharks will see the A team rolled out:

1 DeGroot, 2 Taylor, 3 Lomax, 4 Lord, 5 Darry, 6 Vaa’i, 7 Jacobson, 8 STT, 9 Roigard, 10 Love, 11 Clarke, 12 J. Barrett, 13 Tupaea, 14 Jordan, 15 McKenzie

16 Aumua, 17 Numia, 18 Newell, 19 Segner, 20 Lakai, 21 Preston, 22 ALB, 23 Fineanganofo

* Obviously, STT is a fill-in for Savea.

JW 45 days ago

Many of them are first teamers for me.

Blackmania 45 days ago

A competitive first-choice team.

But I don’t see Clarke as a starter anymore. He seems to have slipped down the pecking order. I’d go with Moorby or Fehi instead.

Bazzallina 45 days ago

Grooter Aumua Lomax

Tupou V Lord

Segner Semisi Luke J

Cam Reuben

Jordie QT

Fehi Dmac Jordan

Samisoni Numia Newell Paddy T Blackadder Preston Tavatavanawai Narawa

Think Cody might still be out for another week and they will want Slater have just a bit more time learning the playbook but neither of these 2 will play the Bulls but Cody will

Wayneo 45 days ago

Looking at the Stormers vs ABs teams, key contest is going to be upfront

If Stormers can gain set-piece dominance, early scrum penalties and driving those lineout mauls over the line, this will put huge pressure on the ABs

Dominating the tight five will starve Barrett of quick, unstructured transition ball, while giving young Yaqeen Ahmed the clean, front-foot platform he needs to ignite Gelant and Senatla out wide

If it turns into an open, high-tempo track meet, the ABs backline speed and bench depth probably pull away late (NZ by 15+)

But if the Stormers turn this into a slow, grinding battle of attrition in the 22, they've got every chance of pulling off a massive upset in Cape Town

Stormers will use their kicking game to test the ABs and that is going to be interesting to see

My call:

Open game:

All Blacks 34 – 16

Set-piece war:

Stormers 23 – 19

What’s everyone else thinking? 👇

JW 45 days ago

Ahmed loves a pin point cross field kick right?

Hammer Head 45 days ago

ABs by 20 points or more.

Tim 45 days ago

Covered your bases with those bold predictions. Brave. Whatever way it plays out ABs will get their tour off to a winning start. The SA super teams rarely troubled the kiwi teams.

Bazzallina 45 days ago

I’m thinking that ABs win either way game is played don’t think Stormers can get setpiece dominance but can disrupt to an extent and throw some nice punches but don’t have the power hits.

ABs to use all that forward pack carrying power Samisoni Tosi Paddy T Wallace Lakai in particular to force some penalties then narrow them up before running them around and then running around them.

Then will give them more of the same with Aumua Luaki ( who has had great ) and Darry with Caleb Clarke chiming in off 9 before doing the same

PM 45 days ago

Reiko back on the wing! Be interesting to see how he goes and what DR thinks of him

Bazzallina 45 days ago

Covering midfield to with the bench makeup they have which means no actual dude who plays 12 at all really if ALB goes off

Blackmania 45 days ago

It’s a good team with plenty of experienced players. It shows the respect the All Blacks have for the Stormers, even without some of their best players.

The All Blacks obviously need to put them under pressure, and ideally create a significant gap on the scoreboard.

I hope Beauden Barrett delivers a performance that lives up to expectations. I’m a little worried…

Lou Cifer 44 days ago

No need to be worried….ABs by easily 25+ by the 80th minute

HenryAU 45 days ago

That is a gun team, maybe some teething issues with new combinations playing together but will be far too powerful for the Stormers. Stormers style of rugby also plays into the hands of the AB’s game .. 25+ point margin for the Abs

Bazzallina 45 days ago

You shouldn’t Mania it’s a good side plenty of quality dudes in there and ones I reckon chomping at the bit to get out there or in some cases back out there to prove themselves.

They don’t need to put a big gap in the scoreboard just play well

and the rest will take care of itself, will be interests to see if Beaudie puts the boot away a tad ( hope so)

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