Leon McDonald has indeed been making headlines recently with his decision to step away from his role with the All Blacks. As of August 2024, McDonald has decided to leave his position as an assistant coach with the New Zealand national team. This move comes as part of a strategic shift or personal decision, and it may impact the team’s coaching structure moving forward.
McDonald’s departure opens up opportunities for other coaching talents and might influence the All Blacks’ preparations for upcoming international competitions. The New Zealand Rugby Union will likely announce a replacement or a new coaching structure in the near future.
This unexpected turn of events happened just as the All Blacks were preparing to depart for South Africa to take on the Springboks in a Castle Lager Rugby Championship double-header in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The first collision will take place at Ellis Park on Saturday, 29 August, kicking off at 17:00, before matters move to the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, 17:00, also at 17:00.
The Springboks sit pretty atop the log table with a full house of 10 points, while their 2023 Rugby World Cup opponents are not too far behind on five points, with both teams having come off a series victory and draw respectively against Australia and Argentina. The Wallabies languish at the foot of the table with zero points, while Los Pumas are in third place with four log points.
Springbok squad for the New Zealand leg of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier).
Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
All Blacks squad for the South Africa leg of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
Forwards (20): Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Backs (16): Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Harry Plummer, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
