All Blacks coach confident captain Ardie Savea will be ready for first Springbok Test

Savea was not part of the All Blacks squad that arrived in Cape Town as the New Zealand skipper was given extra time off and will miss the tour matches ahead of the opening game of three-match series against the hosts.

The All Blacks enjoyed a warm welcome at a tour arrival event staged at Cape Town Stadium on Friday with 43 of the 44-strong squad in tow.

Savea is not due to fly into South Africa until 10 days before the first Test match against the Springboks on August 22 in Johannesburg.

"Yep, he will definitely be available," Rennie told reporters about his skipper. "Ardi's had a massive workload. He's been playing and training since January 2025, and so that's about 18 months' worth of top-level footy, so we just wanted him to take some time out.

"He didn't want to do it during the previous Test series. He won't play against the Bulls either, but he'll be here in South Africa 10 days before the Test."

The All Blacks' unbeaten July with Rennie now at the helm was mirrored by the Springboks seeing off England, Scotland and Wales in their three-game block of matches. "We're building," he said about his New Zealand team.

"We're a new side. We got a lot of new staff. We got quite a lot of new young players, and so we'™re learning a lot. It was a good performance, but we'™re well aware of how tough this challenge is. You know, double world champions.

"Rassie's used a hell of a lot of players â- 46 players maybe â- and you wouldnâ™t know the team they put out against Scotland. There were a lot of changes.

"Now Scotland are an excellent side, but they (South Africa) won convincingly in the end. So, we're well aware of the task in front. He (Erasmus) has done a phenomenal job here."

First up for the All Blacks is the recent United Rugby Championship semi-finalists, John Dobson's Stormers., who the tourists take on Friday, 7 August.

Rennie added: "Oh, look, Stormers got a great reputation. They had a pretty strong season in URC and got away to a really good start, didn't they? Ended up making the semi.

"So we're well aware of all the African sides because they all got a lot of big men. They play a great brand of footy. It'll be quick. Playing in this great stadium, we're really excited about it."

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