‘Difficult season’ awaits All Blacks as Jeff Wilson exposes ‘no experience or depth’ for four Springboks Tests
Tamaiti Williams and an inset of All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson.
The All Blacks could be in for a ‘difficult’ season if Dave Rennie cannot find a capable loosehead prop, according to legendary winger Jeff Wilson.
New Zealand are set to face the most dominant scrum in international rugby in four consecutive matches later this year during the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series, and Wilson is concerned that Rennie’s men could be exposed in the set-pieces.
Rassie Erasmus has immense depth in the prop positions, with Wilco Louw arguably being the most aggressive and dominant tighthead prop in the game right now, while Thomas du Toit was named in the World Rugby Dream Team last year.
The duo made the most of their opportunities in 2025 with Frans Malherbe sidelined through injury, but the veteran tighthead is on track for a return to action before the start of the international season. Vincent Koch fell down the pecking order for the number three jumper but continues to impress for the Sharks, while Zachary Porthen, Neethling Fouche, and Asenathi Ntlabakanye all made their debuts in Green and Gold last year with varied success.
The depth on the opposite side of the scrum is just as deep with Porthen emerging as the latest swing prop, but is still well down the pecking order behind World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Ox Nche, Bulls powerhouse Gerhard Steenekamp, the versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels and 2025 debutant Boan Venter, whilst Du Toit can also do a job in the number one jumper.
One injury puts the All Blacks under pressure
But one injury to the All Blacks‘ loosehead stocks has Wilson concerned that the scrum could become an area of the game where the Springboks can really turn the screws on New Zealand when the two nations collide later this year.
“It’s interesting how there was no love for loosehead prop there, and I’m the one who put loosehead prop in that poll because we are playing the Springboks four times in four weeks,” Wilson said on Sky Sports’ Breakdown show, commenting on a poll on which All Black position keeps Dave Rennie up at night.
“I think it’s highly unlikely we’ll see Tamaiti Williams, given all the challenges he is going through, again in 2026 at the highest level. I hope he gets himself right and gets healthy, and we see the best of him.”
With doubt around whether Williams will play for the All Blacks this year, as the Crusaders front rower has been ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season due to a serious spinal infection, Wilson rued the lack of quality and depth on the loosehead side of the scrum.
“We’ve only got Ethan De Groot, who has played 40 Test matches for the All Blacks. This is what we are missing with Tamaiti Williams [referencing a clip of the Crusaders star’s highlights], but we’re not going to see that,” he continued.
“Outside of him, we’ve got George Bower, who has played 24 Test matches, and Ollie Norris has played three. There is no experience or depth in this position.”
Veteran prop’s future?
Like Du Toit and Porthen, Ofa Tu’ungafasi is renowned for his ability to play on both sides of the scrum and impressed for the All Blacks during the 2024 international season. However, he missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign through injury and could be heading offshore next season. His contract expires at the end of the current Super Rugby campaign and has been linked with a move to Irish club Ulster as a replacement for Angus Bell.
While the Blues veteran ticks the quality and experience boxes, his potential unavailability next year could rule him out of contention.
“Are you going to go back to Ofa Tu’ungafasi? Highly unlikely given he probably won’t be around next year,” Wilson added.
“We’ve got some challenges, and if you are exposed at scrum time at the highest level of Test match rugby, it’s going to be a difficult season for the All Blacks.
“For me, loosehead prop right now, a little bit of concern.”
