New Zealand has announced two powerful squads for matches in Europe in November.
All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan have named the following squad for the Lipovitan-D Rugby Challenge Cup fixture in Japan and the Healthspan Elite Northern Tour of Wales, Scotland and England.
The bulk of the Rugby Championship squad has been retained as the All Blacks set their sights on the Northern Tour.
The squad features the return of 56-Test midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown [pictured below] who has made a successful return to play following shoulder surgery. The 27-year-old is a timely addition to a midfield group which is missing Quinn Tupaea and Jack Goodhue due to injury.
While there is a combined 1362 Test caps across this squad, a number of capped players will be given the opportunity to gain valuable experience on tour with the All Blacks XV. Coached by Leon MacDonald, the squad is named tomorrow (Monday) and will boost the depth in New Zealand’s talent pool as Rugby World Cup 2023 approaches.
“The Northern Tour is always a highlight in the All Black calendar and this year is no exception,” said Foster. “With less than a year till the start of the Rugby World Cup, this tour gives us another great opportunity to grow from where we finished the Rugby Championship. Experiencing big Test matches in the north is great preparation for what is to come in France next year.
“The addition of our All Blacks XV team will also help grow this experience across a wider group of players.”
The 35-strong All Black squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps).
Forwards:
Hookers
Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 17)
Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 72)
Props
George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 19)
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 10)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 42)
Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Tasman, 20)
Fletcher Newell (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 4)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 48)
Locks
Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 55)
Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 98)
Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 15)
Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 140)
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 85)
Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Tasman, 21)
Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 19)
Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 18)
Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 67)
Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 12)
Backs:
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 12)
Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2)
Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 111)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 109)
Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)
Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki, 1)
Midfielders
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5)
David Havili (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)
Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 56)
Anton Lienert-Brown (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 56)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 2)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 45)
Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 11)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)
Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)
WEEK 1
: SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER - Japan vs All Blacks, 2:50PM (6:50PM NZT), NATIONAL STADIUM, TOKYO
WEEK 2
: SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER - Wales vs All Blacks, 3:15PM (4:15AM SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER NZT), PRINCIPALITY STADIUM, CARDIFF
WEEK 3
: SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER - Scotland v All Blacks 2:15PM (3:15AM MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER NZT), MURRAYFIELD STADIUM, EDINBURGH
WEEK 4
: SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER - England v All Blacks, 5:30PM (6:30AM SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER NZT), TWICKENHAM, LONDON
Inaugural All Blacks XV Tour [Updated 27/10/2022]
The All Blacks XV have called in an additional six players to join the squad, ahead of their inaugural Northern Tour against Ireland A (4 November) and Barbarians (13 November).
Cortez Ratima, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Shaun Stevenson, Josh Ioane, Tevita Mafileo and Tyrone Thompson will join the All Blacks XV in Auckland tomorrow morning. Replacing injured players and covering those called in to join the All Blacks.
The updated 25-strong All Blacks XV squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province):
Forwards:
Props
Finlay Brewis (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (25, Hurricanes / Hawke's Bay)
Aidan Ross (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (24, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Hookers
Brodie McAlister (25, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Tyrone Thompson (22, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay)
Locks
Josh Dickson (27, Highlanders / Otago)
Zach Gallagher (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Loose Forwards
Dominic Gardiner (21, Crusaders / Canterbury)
Billy Harmon (27, Highlanders / Canterbury)
Luke Jacobson (25, Chiefs / Waikato)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders / Otago)
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (24, Highlanders / Hawke's Bay)
Backs:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (30, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (21, Chiefs / Waikato)
Cam Roigard (21, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)
First five-eighths
Josh Ioane (27, Chiefs / Otago)
Midfielders
Levi Aumua (28, Moana Pasifika / Tasman)
Bryce Heem (33, Blues / Auckland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs / Tasman)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes / Waikato)
Outside backs
AJ Lam (24, Blues / Auckland)
Ruben Love (21, Hurricanes / Wellington)
Shaun Stevenson (25, Chiefs / North Harbour)
Unavailable due to injury: George Bell, Bryn Gatland, Oli Jager and Angus Ta’avao
Asafo Aumua, Damian McKenzie, Mark Telea, Patrick Tuipulotu and Brad Weber have been called up from the All Blacks XV to join the All Blacks as a result of forced personnel changes. These players may re-join the All Blacks XV squad in Ireland, any updates to the squad will be worked through following All Blacks v Japan match this weekend.
All Blacks XV Head Coach, Leon MacDonald said, “We are expecting an intense challenge from both Ireland A and the Barbarians. These two fixtures will allow players to showcase what they have and put their best foot forward on an international stage.
“The selection panel have named a dynamic All Blacks XV squad, with eight capped All Blacks who know how to perform at this level and emerging talent. To play at international level is extremely valuable for the players and I am looking forward to guiding the team in what will be a first for the All Blacks XV.”
Ian Foster All Blacks Head Coach and All Blacks XV selector said, “The squad has a mixture of some experienced players and some younger talent coming through that we, as a group of All Blacks, are really keen to see how they progress in a Northern Hemisphere environment.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to play with a black jersey on, in a different environment and test themselves against different game plans and styles. Hopefully, that will help prepare us really well in another part of our building blocks for the Rugby World Cup next year.”
