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All Blacks XV named to play Japan
All Blacks XV headicoach Leon MacDonald has named his playing 23 to face a Japan XV in the first of a two match series.
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The starting front row for the team consists of Xavier Numia as the loosehead prop, Jermaine Ainsley as the tighthead prop, and Ricky Riccitelli as the hooker. Impact players on the bench include Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, and Pouri Rakete-Stones.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Quinten Strange form the locking duo, while the loose forward trio comprises Akira Ioane, Christian Lio-Willie, and Du’Plessis Kirifi. Co-Captain Billy Harmon and Cameron Suafoa are substitutes.
In the backline, Brad Weber (Co-Captain) and Stephen Perofeta will play at scrum-half and fly-half, respectively. Jack Goodhue and Alex Nankivell are the midfield combination at 12 and 13. Folau Fakatava will make an impact from the bench.
The back three consists of Etene Nanai-Seturo on the left wing, Bailyn Sullivan on the right wing, and Ruben Love as the starting fullback. Sam Gilbert and Brett Cameron are named as replacements.
“We are anticipating a huge challenge from Japan on Saturday, they are a strong team and we know they have been preparing intensely for the next two matches,” said MacDonald.
“With a short lead in to kick off, it’s about balancing the team with experienced players and emerging talent. The players are all out to showcase their skills and strength as a team on the international stage. It’s going to be an incredibly proud moment for the team and their whanau, especially for those players representing New Zealand for the first time.”
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MacDonald has also named Brad Weber and Billy Harmon as co-captains.
The matchday 23 is as follows (Super Rugby Club, Province)
Xavier Numia (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Ricky Riccitelli (Blues, Taranaki)
Jermaine Ainsley (Highlanders, Otago)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Quinten Strange (Crusaders, Tasman)
Akira Ioane (Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders, Otago)
Brad Weber – Co-Captain (Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)
Stephen Perofeta (Blues, Taranaki)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (Chiefs, Counties Manukau)
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders, Northland)
Alex Nankivell (Chiefs, Tasman)
Bailyn Sullivan (Hurricanes, Waikato)
Ruben Love (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Tyrone Thompson (Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)
Ollie Norris (Chiefs, Waikato)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
Cameron Suafoa (Blues, North Harbour)
Billy Harmon – Co-Captain (Highlanders, Canterbury)
Folau Fakatava (Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
Brett Cameron (Hurricanes, Manawat?)
Sam Gilbert (Highlanders, Otago)
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
37 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
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