NPC team lists reveal two All Blacks backs released to play

With questions circling the All Blacks’ wing selections for Saturday’s Springbok Test in Wellington, an unexpected twist has revealed which candidates have not been selected.

Both Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece have been named in their respective NPC teams for this weekend’s round of action.

With the All Blacks team named internally on Tuesdays, the NPC team namings confirm the pair have missed the cut to play South Africa. No other All Blacks outside backs appear on the team sheets.

Reece started the year as the All Blacks’ preferred right winger, but was dropped following the team’s trip to Argentina, with Emoni Narawa taking his spot. The 28-year-old will make his Southland Stags debut on the right edge against Counties Manukau.

Fainga’anuku last donned the black jersey at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with a two-season stint in France ruling him ineligible for national selection in the time since the tournament.

While initially told he was unavailable for All Blacks duties until the Autumn Nations Series, an injury to fellow Tasman bruiser Timoci Tavatavanawai allowed Fainga’anuku to join camp as an injury replacement. He has been named in the No. 23 jersey in Tasman’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury.

Caleb Clarke has not been named to play for Auckland after spending the last two weeks with the NPC team, and All Blacks coaches have confirmed the speedster is back in the national set-up this week.

With the two wingers ruled out, and Emoni Narawa dealing with a rib injury, there remain four outside back options that may be named in the team tomorrow: Clarke, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, and Ruben Love. Leroy Carter has remained with the team as injury cover.

While Ioane has owned the No. 11 jersey in 2025, he was named to start on the right wing for the second Test against France in July, with Clarke named to start on the left before an ankle injury ruled him out. The injury saw Ioane switch to the left edge as Narawa came in on the right.

Another proven combination this season has been Ioane at 11, Will Jordan at 14 and Damian McKenzie at 15. Whether selectors revisit their previous choices or opt for something new will be revealed Thursday morning.

Lock Sam Darry, who joined the All Blacks camp last week, has also been named to play for Canterbury this weekend.