Prop Siale Lauaki and utility back Josh Jacomb are set to make their All Blacks debuts from the bench, capping years of hard work after rising through New Zealand rugby's development system. Their selection headlines a side that also features seven players making their first appearance of the year in black, including Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Ethan Blackadder and Fabian Holland.

Rennie has already confirmed Barrett will start his first match under the new coaching regime, while the squad's unusual travel arrangements through Singapore, Hong Kong and Perth forced the coaching staff to finalise several matchday squads well before arriving in South Africa. Speaking after naming his side, Rennie reserved special praise for his two newest All Blacks.

Patrick Tuipulotu captains a side packed with experience and emerging talent, while Beauden Barrett returns at fly-half for his first appearance under Rennie. Fabian Holland, Simon Parker, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi make up an athletic loose-forward and locking combination, with Josh Moorby handed another opportunity at full-back.

The bench features plenty of impact, including Asafo Aumua, Ethan Blackadder and Caleb Clarke, while Lauaki and Jacomb are in line to earn their first All Blacks caps.

15. Josh Moorby 14. Leroy Carter 13. Billy Proctor 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 11. Rieko Ioane 10. Beauden Barrett 9. Cortez Ratima 1. George Bower 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho 3. Pasilio Tosi 4. Fabian Holland 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (captain) 6. Simon Parker 7. Peter Lakai 8. Wallace Sititi

16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ollie Norris 18. Siale Lauaki* 19. Sam Darry 20. Ethan Blackadder 21. Kyle Preston 22. Josh Jacomb* 23. Caleb Clarke

Siale Lauaki's selection may have surprised some supporters after he made only three starts during the Hurricanes' Super Rugby Pacific title-winning campaign. However, those inside New Zealand rugby have viewed the 23-year-old as an All Black in waiting for several seasons.

Standing at 6ft 4in and 125kg, Lauaki possesses the physical profile every international coach covets, yet it is his mobility that truly separates him from many modern tightheads. Comfortable carrying in open space, capable of beating defenders with subtle footwork and increasingly reliable around the park, he offers far more than raw scrummaging power.

One of his greatest strengths is versatility. Having developed the ability to play on either side of the front row, Lauaki gives Rennie valuable flexibility across a demanding eight-match tour. His journey has included New Zealand Under-20 honours and three appearances for the All Blacks XV, allowing him to experience the demands of international rugby before earning his senior opportunity.

The Hurricanes have become one of Super Rugby's premier breeding grounds for front-row talent, and Lauaki is the latest graduate to reach the highest level. Friday night's debut could be the first chapter of a lengthy international career if he transfers his immense Super Rugby potential onto the Test stage.

Josh Jacomb has never taken the conventional route to the All Blacks. The 25-year-old play-maker has built his reputation through consistency rather than hype, gradually establishing himself as one of New Zealand's most dependable attacking operators. Equally comfortable at fly-half or full-back, Jacomb's versatility has become one of his biggest assets and a key reason Dave Rennie views him as an ideal touring player.

His breakthrough arrived during the 2025 NPC season with Taranaki. Jacomb finished as the competition's second-highest points scorer and claimed the prestigious Duane Monkley Medal at the New Zealand Rugby Awards after producing a series of match-winning displays. The standout performance came against Auckland, where he amassed a remarkable 30 points, including a hat-trick of tries, breaking Taranaki's top-division scoring record previously held by none other than Beauden Barrett.

Opportunities with the Chiefs have inevitably been limited by Damian McKenzie's presence, but Jacomb has continued to impress whenever called upon and has already represented the All Blacks XV against Georgia before touring Europe in 2025.

Rennie has openly praised Jacomb's professionalism and adaptability, and with the All Blacks navigating a demanding tour schedule, his ability to cover multiple backline positions could prove invaluable. He may begin Friday's clash on the bench, but few would bet against Jacomb becoming another Taranaki success story to establish himself on the international stage.