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When the All Blacks take on Japan in Tokyo next weekend there are sure to be some new faces charging out onto the field.
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Steve Hansen’s bumper squad of 51 features eight uncapped players, with seven of them named in a 19-man wider group specifically assembled to prepare for the match against Japan.
A few names surprised fans, but Steve Hansen’s track record has proven that he’s rarely wide of the mark when it comes to player selection.
Here are the new faces you need to look out for on Saturday and moving forward. You can watch the game throughout Asia live on RugbyPass.
Tyrel Lomax
22-year-old tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax shapes as an integral piece of the All Blacks’ front row in the near future.
Lomax previously represented Australia at the Under 20 level and played a season for the Melbourne Rebels before shifting across the Tasman to join the Highlanders in 2018.
Last year Lomax made his debut for the New Zealand Maori and has enjoyed a fine season with Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup.
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The prop possesses elite size, comparable to new All Blacks teammate Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and has been compared to 45-test stalwart Carl Hayman.
He also has his father’s international pedigree to boot, as the son of former Kiwis rugby league prop John Lomax.
George Bridge
I wouldn’t have been upset if George Bridge had been included in the main All Blacks squad.
The versatile outside back has been in world-beating form all year, starring for the Crusaders with 15 tries on the wing and leading Canterbury to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final from fullback.
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At 23 years old Bridge is in the Ben Smith mold, and may force Steve Hansen’s hand come World Cup time if he can pull together another outstanding Super Rugby season in 2019.
READ MORE: Making the case for George Bridge
Bridge stands out in several key areas. He’s brilliant under the high ball, an elusive runner and ranked as one of the better defensive outside backs in Super Rugby in 2018.
He has already shown the All Blacks what he can do, scoring two tries against them while lining up for the Barbarians in 2017.
Brett Cameron
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the squad, 22-year-old first-five eighth Brett Cameron’s selection speaks volumes of his standing in the eyes of the selectors.
The diminutive Cameron admitted himself that his selection came completely out of the blue. He has just six minutes of Super Rugby action under his belt with the Crusaders but has helped Canterbury to consecutive Mitre 10 Cup finals, winning in 2017.
Cameron is notably the only first-five in the 19-man wider training group, though Canterbury and Crusaders teammate Richie Mo’unga may find himself staying with the group in Japan despite scintillating Super Rugby form.
Cameron finished 2018 ranked second in the Mitre 10 Cup in terms of points scored with 121 and kicked for goal with a success rate of 80%.
Dalton Papalii
Put simply, Dalton Papalii is a freak.
Although he’s the only uncapped player named in the All Blacks’ 32-man squad, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Steve Hansen let the young loose forward get his international feet wet against Japan next weekend.
Papalii’s performances for Auckland this season have been nothing short of spectacular. The flanker has stuffed the stat sheet with astronomical tackle figures. His tackle accuracy of 97% might be the only thing more impressive than his competition-leading 169 made tackles.
READ MORE: The Rise of Dalton Papalii
In his last five starts for Auckland, his tackle counts were 23, 29, 22, 21 and 20, with just six misses all season.
After turning 21 earlier this month, Papalii shapes as a key figure in the All Blacks for years to come.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Jordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
38 Go to comments