The All Blacks have been forced into a late change ahead of their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener against the Stormers, with Wallace Sititi ruled out.
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Sititi was originally named to start at No.8 but has been withdrawn due to a mild illness, with German-born Anton Segner promoted into the starting XV. Segner will wear the No.7 jersey, while Peter Lakai moves across to start at No.8.
The match will mark Segner’s first start for the All Blacks after the Blues flanker made two appearances from the bench against Italy and Ireland during this summer’s Nations Championship.
Born in Germany, Segner will pack down alongside Dutch-born lock Fabian Holland, highlighting the increasingly global backgrounds of New Zealand’s emerging talents.
Although Sititi’s absence is a setback for the Stormers clash, the injury is not expected to impact the rest of the tour. Given the mild nature of his illness, the 23-year-old is expected to return in the coming weeks.
Sititi broke through at international level in 2024, becoming the youngest player selected in the All Blacks squad before being named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Renowned for his physical approach, tireless work rate and leadership qualities, Sititi is regarded as one of New Zealand rugby’s most exciting young loose forwards.
New Zealand – revised squad: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Leinert-Brown, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke
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All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final
The All Blacks have been handed a potentially brutal route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after being drawn alongside hosts Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest pools.
With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.
Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown
New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.
For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.
Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits
If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.
Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:
- Samoa, USA or Japan (Pool E)
- Wales or Tonga (Pool F)
- One of the emerging contenders from Pool C
On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.
