All Blacks opt for continuity heading into Europe

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has named a nearly unchanged squad from the Rugby Championship for their 2024 Northern Tour.

The squad features a solitary change to the 36-man group that did duty in the Rugby Championship.

Cam Roigard returns from a knee injury he sustained during the Super Rugby season which will provide the coaches a healthy headache in scrumhalf selection.

“It was fantastic to see Cam in great form for Counties in the weekend and we are excited to have him back in the mix.

“Fellow scrumhalves Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara showed during the Rugby Championship that they deserve their spots in the squad, and this means Noah Hotham will be included in the All Blacks XV squad to be announced tomorrow, where he will be able to gain some valuable playing time,” All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said.

“This Northern Tour is an exciting challenge, which will allow us to continue evolving our game and building a style of rugby that creates opportunities against some fierce competition.

“We have selected a squad that will bring consistency and continuity, while also achieving the right balance of giving newer talent the chance to develop within a team that has valuable experience against these northern hemisphere sides.”

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In addition to the squad of 36, a small number of players from the All Blacks XV will embark to Japan with the All Blacks to help their preparation and gain additional experience in the All Blacks environment – before linking up with the All Blacks XV squad who will face Munster and Georgia in November.

This will also allow a group of players from the All Blacks to travel England two days earlier in order to focus on preparation for the Northern Tour Test matches.

The squad will depart for Japan on October 17.

All Blacks tour fixtures:

Saturday, October 26: Japan v All Blacks
Sunday, November 3: England v All Blacks
Saturday, November 9: Ireland v All Blacks
Sunday, November 17: France v All Blacks
Sunday, November 24: Italy v All Blacks

All Blacks squad:

Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi.

Backs: Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a.