All Blacks get big names back for Nations Championship
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Head coach Dave Rennie has named his All Blacks squad for the November leg of the Nations Championship.
Codie Taylor will captain the 36-strong squad, who will play Scotland, Wales and England before competing in the Nations Championship Finals.
Hooker George Bell, prop Saula Ma’u, and loose forwards Leicester Fainga’anuku and Christian Lio-Willie join the squad, while Jordie Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Ethan Blackadder, Anton Segner, Asafo Aumua and Fehi Fineanganofo all return from injury.
Chay Fihaki, Jamie Hannah and Ma’u are named in an All Blacks squad for the first time (they have previously been injury cover), and Ma’u and Josh Jacomb are the only members of the squad yet to receive a Test cap.
Rennie said the Northern Series was a great opportunity for the group to keep building on the work done during the Bledisloe Cup.
“This is a really strong squad we have selected.
“It’s great to officially welcome George, Saula, Leicester, Christian, Jamie and Chay back into the squad. They have all shown fantastic form during the NPC.
“We’re also rapt to have eight players who have played a lot of footy for us this year return from injury. They bring a lot of quality and experience to the group.
“Playing Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends is a tough assignment. These are all proud rugby nations with passionate home crowds. We will embrace the challenge and the opportunity to build on our Bledisloe Cup performances.
“We have enjoyed fantastic support at home and away this year and acknowledge the thousands of Kiwis who we know will be setting alarms to watch from the other side of the world,” Rennie said.
Players unavailable due to injury are Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf); Shannon Frizell (knee); Tyrel Lomax (neck); Leroy Carter (ankle); Ruben Love (ankle); Ardie Savea (shoulder); Luke Jacobson (elbow); Caleb Clarke (shoulder); Ollie Norris (knee).
Simon Parker is unavailable due to personal reasons.
The squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps):
* denotes new Test cap
Forwards (20)
Hookers
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 114) (Captain)
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 27)
George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)
Props
Ethan de Groot (28 / Highlanders / Southland / 46)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 31)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 43)
Pasilio Tosi (28 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 19)
Saula Ma’u* (26 / Highlanders / Otago / 0)
Locks
Scott Barrett (32 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 91)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 18)
Fabian Holland (24 / Highlanders / Otago / 16)
Jamie Hannah (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)
Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 53)
Loose Forwards
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 3)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (27 / Crusaders / Tasman / 12)
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 15)
Christian Lio-Willie (28 / Crusaders / Otago / 3)
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 16)
Wallace Sititi (24 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 25)
Backs (16)
Halfbacks
Cam Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 26)
Kyle Preston (27 / Crusaders / Wellington / 6)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 25)
Flyhalves
Richie Mo’unga (32 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 57)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 83)
Josh Jacomb* (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 86)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 31)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 3)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 94)
Outside Backs
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 91)
Chay Fihaki (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)
Fehi Fineanganofo (24 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 7)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 63)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 147)
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