All Blacks prioritize size for Springboks tour, per Kirwan

Former All Blacks wing Sir John Kirwan anticipates head coach Dave Rennie will continue to emphasize size and physicality in player selections for New Zealand's upcoming tour of South Africa. This approach directly addresses the Springboks' renowned forward dominance.

The All Blacks are scheduled to tour South Africa in August, facing the two-time world champions in four Tests. This marks a significant challenge for Rennie, who took over as head coach earlier this year after Scott Robertson's dismissal.

Rennie’s tenure has shown promise, with the team securing victories against France, Italy, and Ireland. However, Planet Rugby reports he is not complacent, experimenting with various combinations during the recent Nations Championship while maintaining a core squad early signs have been promising.

Strategic Forward Combinations

Kirwan, speaking on the Rivals podcast, stressed the necessity of matching South Africa's physicality up front. He believes New Zealand will need "big men" to compete. "It's probably impossible to have as many big men as South Africa, but you've got to match that physicality and I'm pretty sure they've got one eye on South Africa with their selections, especially with Tupou," Kirwan said on the Rivals podcast.

Kirwan described Vaa’i as a "gem of a guy" who calls lineouts and is a smart player with an enforcer's edge. He fully supports Rennie’s decision to play a second-rower at blindside, recognizing the strategic importance of this choice for the series Kirwan agreed with Rennie’s call.

Countering Springbok Power

Kirwan highlighted the importance of stopping the Springboks before the advantage line, citing a recent game against Wales where the Welsh failed to do so. "If you don't do that to South Africa, they're going to get a roll on, the only way you can stop those big men is actually smacking them up front so they can't run onto the ball at 100 mph," Kirwan commented. This emphasizes the critical need for the All Blacks pack to dominate collisions.

Tuipulotu, despite a history of injuries limiting his consistent play, particularly this Super Rugby season, is seen as crucial. Kirwan noted his size, good footwork, and hard running as attributes that make him a valuable selection. The All Blacks under Dave Rennie will face a stern test in South Africa.

Maintaining Depth and Impact

This selection strategy, prioritizing powerful forwards, suggests Rennie is building a team specifically designed to confront the Springboks' renowned physical game, setting the stage for an intense series. Readers can find more general world rugby coverage on our site.