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Seven capped players named in All Blacks XV side to face Japan for final run
The All Blacks XV team has been named ahead of their match against the Brave Blossoms at EGAO Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto on Saturday 15 July, kick-off at 6.05PM JST (9.05PM NZST).
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All Blacks XV Head Coach Leon MacDonald has named his playing 23 to challenge Japan’s national team, the Brave Blossoms in their second and final match of the Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup series.
Following a 38 – 6 win against Japan XV last Saturday, MacDonald has made seven changes to the team anticipating an intense match in Kumamoto.
“The Brave Blossoms have shown they’re a top tier team filled with capped players. We need to build on our performance last week, we’re going up against a full strength national side. They will be hungry for a win and we need to match that.”
The starting front row features loosehead prop Aidan Ross, tighthead prop Jermaine Ainsley and George Bell at hooker. Three Chiefs players make up the reserves with Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris and George Dyer.
The strong locking combination of Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Quinten Strange return, with Akira Ioane, Billy Harmon (Co-Captain) and Pita Gus-Sowakula making up the loose forward trio. Cameron Suafoa and Christian Lio-Wille will provide impact off the bench.
In the backs, experienced All Blacks capped players Brad Weber (co-captain) and Stephen Perofeta will take the field at nine and ten, alongside Jack Goodhue and Billy Proctor in the mid-field at 12 and 13. Folau Fakatava will provide impact off the bench.
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The back three will see Jona Nareki on the left wing, AJ Lam on the right wing and Ruben Love starting at fullback. With Alex Nankivell and Sam Gilbert named to be injected off the bench.
All Blacks XV matchday 23 is as follows (Super Rugby Club, Province):
1. Aidan Ross (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
2. George Bell (Crusaders, Canterbury)
3. Jermaine Ainsley (Highlanders, Otago)
4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
5. Quinten Strange (Crusaders, Tasman)
6. Akira Ioane (Blues, Auckland)
7. Billy Harmon – Co-Captain (Highlanders, Canterbury)
8. Pita Gus Sowakula (Chiefs, Taranaki)
9. Brad Weber – Co-Captain (Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)
10. Stephen Perofeta (Blues, Taranaki)
11. Jona Nareki (Highlanders, Otago)
12. Jack Goodhue (Crusaders, Northland)
13. Billy Proctor (Hurricanes, Wellington)
14. AJ Lam (Blues, Auckland)
15. Ruben Love (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Reserves
16. Tyrone Thompson (Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)
17. Ollie Norris (Chiefs, Waikato)
18. George Dyer (Chiefs, Waikato)
19. Cameron Suafoa (Blues, North Harbour)
20. Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders, Otago)
21. Folau Fakatava (Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
22. Alex Nankivell (Chiefs, Tasman)
23. Sam Gilbert (Highlanders, Otago)
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’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…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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