Lakai credits Springboks physicality for shaping his All Blacks rise ahead of Scotland test

Peter Lakai has identified the bruising Springboks series as the crucible that forged his growing confidence, with the 23-year-old All Blacks flanker set to start at No.7 against Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend.

Lakai has been one of the standout performers of New Zealand’s 2026 season, and his form during the Bledisloe Cup Tests has ensured the absences of Luke Jacobson and All Blacks captain Ardie Savea have not derailed the side’s momentum heading into their northern-hemisphere tour.

When asked what separates the player who faced Scotland last year from the one who will line up against them this weekend, Lakai was direct. “I guess it’s just confidence,” he said. “Coming off that South Africa tour, obviously playing the number one team in the world four weeks in a row definitely helped. They’re probably the benchmark in World Rugby when it comes to physicality, and I learnt a few things from there, and then just trying to apply my learnings to each game, and playing confidently. I’m happy with the footy I’m playing at the moment.”

The growth is not Lakai’s alone. The entire All Blacks squad has emerged from a historic series defeat to South Africa with a sharper understanding of the standard required at Test level. Lakai acknowledged the set-piece was a particular area of concern coming out of that tour. “We reviewed that tour, and it was fair to say that we got beaten up a bit at the set piece,” he said. “Going into that Aussie tour, we wanted to touch that up and give ourselves the best chance to have possession and play in the right parts of the field.”

With the northern-hemisphere leg of the tour presenting a different challenge entirely, Lakai is under no illusions about what lies ahead. “Coming up north, it’s a different beast; they’re quality teams up here that we’ve got to play three weeks in a row. So yeah, we’ve sort of set the standard for ourselves. I guess we’ve just got to lift it on this tour.”

Lakai will be joined in a youthful loose forward trio by Wallace Sititi at No.8 and Tupou Vaa’i at blindside flanker — a combination with an average age of just 24. Despite that inexperience, Lakai is confident in what the group brings. “I played quite a bit with Wally coming through the age grades and getting to play with him at international is pretty special as well. He’s a special player. He’s instinctive, which is easy for me to read off and play off him. And Toups as well; he’s got good football IQ, and he leads our team well in the set-piece area. So it’s a good balance within our loosie group.”

New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie will be hoping the loose forward unit can deliver as the All Blacks pursue the inaugural Nations Championship title.