Four All Blacks changes Dave Rennie MUST make after second Test defeat
Rugby NewsMonday, 31 August 2026 at 07:53
The All Blacks were brought back down to earth in Cape Town as the Springboks claimed a 33-26 victory to level their four-Test series at 1-1.
Dave Rennie now faces some major selection calls ahead of the third Test, with several players pushing hard for promotion following impressive performances against the Lions.
Follow Rugby News from RUCK on WhatsApp:
Here are four changes we think the All Blacks boss must make.
#1. Ruben Love OUT – Richie Mo’unga IN
Love has enjoyed an encouraging start to his Test career, but the fly-half struggled to impose himself for long periods on Saturday.
His intercept pass to Jesse Kriel was a particularly poor error, while he could perhaps have played flatter to the gain line as New Zealand struggled to consistently trouble the Springbok defence.
Love did improve considerably during the final quarter and his goal-kicking was excellent, but with the series finely poised, Rennie may decide now is the time to turn to his most experienced playmaker.
Replacement: Richie Mo’unga
Mo’unga made his long-awaited All Blacks return against the Lions, his first appearance in the black jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
The 32-year-old helped inspire New Zealand's remarkable comeback from 35-17 down to win 41-35 and has surely done enough to put himself firmly in contention.
#2. Codie Taylor OUT – Asafo Aumua IN
The Springboks put huge pressure on the New Zealand lineout and Taylor found himself right in the firing line.
There were a couple of clever throws to the front to negate the South African threat, but the All Blacks rarely enjoyed the consistently clean ball they wanted.
Taylor has also only recently returned from injury and, having started the opening two Tests of the series, this could be the perfect opportunity to freshen things up.
Replacement: Asafo Aumua
Aumua came off the bench in Cape Town and would bring serious carrying power and explosiveness to the starting pack.
With South Africa again likely to turn the third Test into an intensely physical battle, the powerful hooker could be exactly what Rennie needs from the opening whistle.
#3. Tyrel Lomax OUT – Fletcher Newell IN
Lomax was guilty of several costly errors in Cape Town, including an offside penalty that handed South Africa three points.
He was also one of several All Blacks defenders who drifted too far across and left space on the inside, something Siya Kolisi ruthlessly exploited shortly before half-time.
Overall, it was a fairly low-key display before Lomax was replaced early in the second half.
Replacement: Fletcher Newell
Newell replaced Lomax after the break and could now be rewarded with the starting jersey.
The 37-cap tighthead has plenty of Test experience and starting him would also give Rennie the option of unleashing Lomax from the bench against tiring Springbok forwards.
#4. Luke Jacobson OUT – Ethan Blackadder IN
Jacobson was relatively busy but never really made the impact New Zealand needed from their back-row.
His penalty early in the second half perhaps summed up an afternoon where he appeared to be trying desperately to influence proceedings without ever quite managing it.
New Zealand's inability to generate the same number of turnovers as they managed in the opening Test was also noticeable.
Replacement: Ethan Blackadder
Blackadder could hardly have done more to force his way into Rennie's thinking.
The 31-year-old produced a huge performance against the Lions, playing the full 80 minutes and scoring twice as the All Blacks recovered from an 18-point deficit to claim a dramatic victory.
His relentless work-rate, carrying and physicality could be exactly what New Zealand need after the Springboks won the collisions in Cape Town.
Rugby Quiz: Can you name the past 25 Springboks captains?
How well do you know the Springboks? South Africa have had some legendary leaders over the years, with some of the game's biggest names taking on the responsibility of captaining the current world champions.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
But how many of their last 25 captains can you remember? Test your rugby knowledge and see if you can name every player to have led the Springboks in their most recent appearances.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading