Dave Rennie first All Blacks squad – what it means for Springboks

Dave Rennie revealed his first All Blacks squad for the Nations Championship. This is what it means for New Zealand’s first tour to South Africa in 30 years.

All Blacks squad – what it means for the Springboks

Rennie, who coached the Chiefs to successive Super Rugby titles, won three from four Tests against the Springboks when coaching the Wallabies. He also won 18 from 24 matches as Chiefs coach against South African teams.

He also coached New Zealand under 20s to a World Championship final win against the Junior Springboks.

Super Rugby Pacific-winning Hurricanes powerhouse No 10 and No 12 axis duo Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett are favoured to start the Nations Championship against France.

Rennie, who named 34 players for the three Nations Championship tests in New Zealand in July, also named a new captain in Ardi Savea. Crusaders locks Scott Barrett is injured. Barrett was captain in the era of Scott Robertson, who was relieved of his duties after just two seasons in charge.

Rennie named 11 Hurricanes in his squad and included Savea and Anton Leonard-Brown, who both played in Japan for his Kobe Japan League One team.

The two spent the season in Japan as part of a sabbatical.

Winger/centre Rieko Ioane, who did a season sabbatical with Irish giants Leinster, was not picked. Ioane scored a try in Leinster’s URC title win against the Bulls at Croke Park in Dublin.

The Hurricanes hammered the Chiefs 60-5 in the final of Super Rugby Pacific but despite the blow-out in the final, both teams have 11 players in Rennie’s squad.

The core of the players made up Robertson’s squad.

Richie Mo’unga, who returned to New Zealand until after the 2027 World Cup, has not been selected. He must first play a domestic provincial match because of a New Zealand Rugby Union regulation.

At a glance, the squad is powerful among the backs, but continues to look vulnerable in the tight five.

It was the All Blacks lack of a Test quality set-piece that was obvious in the defeats to the Springboks and England in Robertson’s second season.

The All Blacks will play the Springboks in three Tests in South Africa and one in Baltimore, USA, in August and September in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour. They will also play the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.

Sean Fitzpatrick’s All Blacks of 1996 are the only squad from New Zealand to win a Test series (three Tests or more) in South Africa and the 1937 Springboks are the only squad from South Africa to win a Test series in New Zealand (three Tests or more).

The Springboks (four) and All Blacks (three) have won seven of the 10 RWC titles.

Rassie Erasmus named his 46-strong Springboks squad for the Nations Championship after the Springboks 80-31 win against the Barbarians.