VIDEO: Experience trumps form for All Blacks
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: There were no surprises in the All Black squad named Monday for the Rugby Championship.
The selectors opted for experience over form, with an eye on next year’s World Cup.
Captain Kieran Read and lock Brodie Retallick return from injury, while the injured Dane Coles and Sonny Bill Williams were also included.
With coach Steve Hansen fine tuning towards the World Cup in Japan, he named only two uncapped players – prop Tim Perry who played two non-Tests last year and scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, who was in the squad to face France this year, but did not take the field.
However, there was no room in the 33-man squad for form wing George Bridge and scrum-half Bryn Hall from Super Rugby champions Crusaders, while Hurricanes prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen and flank Vaea Fifita also missed out.
“The selectors found this an incredibly difficult squad to select,” Hansen said.
“It has to be noted that there are some very good players who have not made the squad,” he added.
“However, as we’ve seen in previous campaigns, a number of these players will get an opportunity through injury.
“Whilst last year was about growing depth, and we’ll need to continue to do that in some positions, this year is more about growing our game and our player combinations within that.
“By the end of the year, we should have a clearer picture of who and what will be needed for next year’s Rugby World Cup campaign.
“One of the positives of having such a talented pool to select from is that it creates natural competition, not only for spots in the Rugby Championship squad, but also the matchday 23.
“That competition should remove any feelings of complacency within our playing group.”
“At the moment in New Zealand Rugby we’ve got a lot of talent and two things come from that. One is some good players miss out and the second thing is it gets rid of any complacency amongst those that do get selected.” – Hansen pic.twitter.com/do5P2qPp2q
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 6, 2018
Liam Coltman and Ngani Laumape will join the squad as cover for Coles and Williams.
The All Black squad will assemble in Christchurch on Thursday, with the team taking on the Canterbury and Otago provincial sides in the Game of three halves on Friday.
A squad of 32 will head to Sydney on Sunday to prepare for the first Bledisloe Cup Test.
The Rugby Championship starts in Sydney on August 18 – when the All Blacks play Australia, while South Africa host Argentina in Durban.
New Zealand squad:
Forwards: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Tim Perry, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jackson Hemopo, Shannon Frizell, Kieran Read (captain), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock.
Backs: Thomas Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith.
Introducing the #AllBlacks squad for the 2018 Investec Rugby Championship
READ ➡️ https://t.co/geFQt2tP28 pic.twitter.com/NEnaTIJftl
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 6, 2018
