The names have been noted, the roll of honour called as Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson has now named his first squad as All Black coach.
“As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we’ve selected,” he says. “We know it’s a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024.”
Howick’s Blues bull, Hoskins Sotutu, was a glaring omission considering his blistering Super Rugby form. However at least three players with local connections met with Razor’s favour: Saint Kentigern old boys Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders) as well as Dalton Papali’I and Finlay Christie, both from the Blues.
The full squad is:
Forwards:
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)
George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)
Scott Barrett – captain (Crusaders / Taranaki)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues / Auckland)
Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman)
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea – vice captain (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)
Backs:
Finlay Christie (Blues / Tasman)
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)
Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)
Jordie Barrett – vice captain (Hurricanes / Taranaki)
Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)
Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)
Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Stephen Perofeta (Blues / Taranaki)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland)
Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)
Selected as cover:
Sam Darry
Ruben Love
George Bower
David Havili
Not considered due to injury:
Sam Cane
Will Jordan
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Cam Roigard.
The All Blacks will kick off their season against England in Dunedin, July 6 – see www.allblacks.com for details.
