WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has selected three uncapped players among 10 additions to his current squad for a four-test series against the Rugby World Cup champion Springboks starting next month.Rennie has increased his Nations Championship squad of 34 players to 44 players for the tour which comprises three tests and four other matches in South Africa and one test in the United States. All 34 players who were part of New Zealand’s Nations Championship squad — which won tests against France, Italy and Ireland — have been retained.The new caps are Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika backrower Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Chiefs flyhalf Josh Jacomb.The other additions to the squad are prop Ollie Norris, hooker George Bell, lock Fabian Holland, backrower Ethan Blackadder, centers Timoci Tavatavanawai and Rieko Ioane and winger Emoni Narawa.
The All Blacks’ tour to South Africa marks a return to old-fashioned touring with weekend and midweek matches, which was the norm before the rugby union professional era began in 1995.New Zealand will play the Stormers at Cape Town on Aug. 8, the Sharks at Durban on Aug. 12, the Bulls at Pretoria on Aug. 16 and the Lions at Johannesburg on Aug. 26 as well as tests against South Africa at Johannesburg on Aug. 23, at Cape Town on Aug. 30, at Johannesburg on Sept. 6 and in Baltimore on Sept. 13.South Africa is ranked No. 1 and New Zealand is ranked No. 2 in the world, and the tour is being billed as reviving rugby’s “greatest rivalry.”
