Watch: What you need to know about the four new All Blacks
Monday morning was a pretty special time for four players across New Zealand as NZ Rugby chairman Brent Impey announced the All Black squad for next month’s tour to France, Wales and Scotland.. In an instant, dreams came true for Asafo Aumua from Wellington, Jack Goodhue from Northland, Matt Duffie from North Harbour and Tim Perry from Tasman as they all heard their names read out.
Here’s a few more facts about the players about to pull on the black jersey for the first time:
Asafo Aumua
Just call this guy the Human Highlight Reel. The Wellington hooker has yet to play Super Rugby, having spent the season blasting his way to the rugby world’s consciousness via the World Champion NZ under-20 side and Mitre 10 Cup, and will most likely be unleashed on the French XV in the only midweek game of the tour. The All Blacks have curiously gone with four hookers in their squad, signalling that Aumua won’t be rushed into anything – but when he does get his chance he will be Avalon RFC’s first All Black since flanker Scott Waldrom made the end of year tour in 2008.
Matt Duffie
Duffie, who has been seen by many to be the potential successor to Ben Smith, is the second player this season to make his way to the All Blacks via the NRL alongside former Warrior Ngani Laumape. The 27-year-old spent six years at the Melbourne Storm, both in the under-20’s and first grade side, and was part of the 2012 Premiership winning side (although he missed the grand final with injury). He also earned one test cap for the Kiwis, before switching codes to play for the Blues and North Harbour in 2016.
Jack Goodhue
There’s a pretty simple equation for success if you’re a rugby player on the fringes of the big time in NZ – get yourself in the Crusaders and you’ll go places. The Northland local had a huge season for the 2017 Super Rugby champs, forming part of an outstanding midfield and bagging seven tries. Goodhue managed to make his mark originally in the All Black Sevens and the Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup sides, before shifting back to his home town of Whangarei to play for Northland. It was a stroke of good luck for the Taniwha, who enjoyed one of their best seasons in years on the back of Goodhue’s impressive form.
Tim Perry
29 is a pretty advanced age to be making your first appearance on the international stage, at least it is these days. But Tasman prop Tim Perry managed to engineer a career just at the right time – moving from Heartland Championship side Mid-Canterbury to the Tasman union just as they were on the cusp of breaking into being a consistent force in the NZ provincial game, then getting into the Crusaders just in time to win a Super Rugby championship this year. Out of all the new boys, Perry probably has the most likely route to a test start – Steve Hansen has shown to be more interchangeable with his props this season, starting the barely experienced Nepo Laulala and Kane Hames for the back end of the Rugby Championship.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
2 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
237 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to comments