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The All Blacks have named their squad for their three-test series against France next month.
The 33-man squad includes three new faces – Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Shannon Frizell and Jordan Taufua – who have earned their places on the back of some impressive Super Rugby performances for the Chiefs, Highlanders and Crusaders respectively.
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The Crusaders trio of Jack Goodhue, Richie Mo’unga and Tim Perry previously represented the All Blacks during last season’s end of year tour, in what was an uncapped fixture.
Their Crusaders teammate Sam Whitelock will lead the side in the absence of regular captain Kieran Read. Highlanders fullback Ben Smith and Chiefs flanker Sam Cane have been named vice-captains.
The Crusaders are the best represented, with a total of ten players making the squad.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen congratulated Whitelock on his appointment as captain for the Series.
“He’s one half of the best locking combination in the world and one of the best players on and off the park. He has a cool head under pressure and the support of the players and management.
“In saying that, we’re blessed with a number of other leaders in our group and the expectations are that they’ll continue to lead both on and off the park in their actions, and in doing so make Sam’s job that little bit easier.”
There will be two other players joining the squad, with Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman providing paternity cover for expectant father Nathan Harris, and Blues loose forward Akira Ioane joining the side with selectors wanting to continue his development at the international level.
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Notable players to miss out include Hurricane Ben Lam. Many tipped Lam for selection following his scintillating Super Rugby form. The big winger is on pace to shatter the Super Rugby single season try-scoring record, crossing the chalk 14 times in his 11 appearances this season. Crusaders flanker Matt Todd will also be viewed as unlucky to miss selection.
Hansen said: “Firstly, on behalf of the selectors, All Blacks management and New Zealand Rugby, I’d like to congratulate all those players selected for the Steinlager Series, especially the three new All Blacks. It’s always a very special time being selected for the All Blacks for the first time and the players and their families can be justifiably proud of all the hard work they have done to reach this point.
“It was a really tough squad to select, more so because there are some very talented players who have missed out, but I’m sure they will get their opportunity in the black jersey in the near future.”
The series kicks off at Eden Park on June 9.
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
Props: Joe Moody (Crusaders), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes), Tim Perry (Crusaders)
Hookers: Codie Taylor (Crusaders), Nathan Harris (Chiefs)
Locks: Sam Whitelock (C) (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Scott Barrett (Crusaders)
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (VC) (Chiefs), Liam Squire (Highlanders), Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Luke Whitelock (Highlanders), Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith (Highlanders), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs)
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
Midfielders: Sonny Bill Williams (Blues), Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes), Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Ben Smith (VC) (Highlanders), Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes)
In other news:
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Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments