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Three All Blacks added to World XV

All Blacks perform the haka. Photo / Getty Images
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Aside from Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss and World Cup winners Andy Ellis and Ma’a Nonu, head coach Robbie Deans has included three current All Blacks in the World XV squad.

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Robbie Deans’ squad will face Japan on October 26 at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

The game to mark the renewal of the iconic Hanazono ground.

According to Kyodo News, former All Black and current co-captain of Kobe Steelers Andy Ellis will captain the side that contains 1 537 Super Rugby appearances and 525 test caps.

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Ellis and fellow Rugby World Cup winners Nonu and Wyatt Crockett are joined in the squad by three members of the All Blacks squad that will face Japan on November 3 – flanks Dillon Hunt and Jackson Hemopo, and fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder.

They are joined by compatriot Augustine Pulu.

New Zealand is one of six countries represented with the side also drawing on past and present internationals from Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Tonga.

Former Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss has also been included in the team. The hooker headlines a strong South African contingent which also includes Willie Britz, Harold Vorster, Corne Fourie, Hencus van Wyk, Lionel Cronje and Jason Jenkins.

Tonga is represented by former captain Nili Latu.

Argentina by Leonardo Senatore while there are two Australians in Sam Carter and Ben Alexander.

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The squad also contains Ben Gunter and Keisuke Moriya from Deans’ Wild Knights side, the only two players in the squad who have not played in Super Rugby.

Source: Kyodonews.net

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Phantom 32 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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