All Blacks v England squad: Scott Robertson reveals squad for first test in Dunedin
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named his first side of the season with Blues fullback Stephen Perofeta getting the nod over veteran Beauden Barrett at fullback to face England in Dunedin on Saturday.
Barrett will come off the bench for his first top level action at home this year following a season in Japan. T.J. Perenara returns to test level after a two-year break and will start at halfback with Damian McKenzie in the 10 jersey outside of him. Samipeni Finau joins Dalton Papali’i and Ardie Savea, also returning from Japan, in the loose forward trio.
Scott Barrett will captain the All Blacks for the first time, paired up with winning Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu in the locks. Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece will start on the wings.
Any thoughts of Crusaders bias from the multi-Super Rugby winning coach can be brushed aside with the omission of Ethan Blackadder, with Luke Jacobson on the bench taking his likely place in the squad.
“This was a very tough squad to pick, but we’ve selected the best 23 players to beat England on Saturday,” Robertson said. “There is a lot of excitement in the group for our first test and we’re walking together toward this opportunity to represent New Zealand and our families in Dunedin in front of a sold out stadium. We’ve prepared well and we’re ready.”
The All Blacks squad has a collective 934 test caps in total with none of five new caps in the series squad named in the match-day 23 meaning no debutants this weekend.
A dynamic reserve bench is a mix of youthful energy and experience with backs Anton Lienert-Brown and Beauden Barrett bringing a combined 193 test caps to the squad.
Perenara and Reece have both overcome serious injury setbacks to earn their respective places in the starting line-up.
At 32 years old, Perenara is set to play his first test in nearly two years after rupturing his Achilles during the All Blacks 25-25 draw with England in London in 2022. Reece, who was Super Rugby Pacific’s top try-scorer this year, is also in line to play his first test since 2022, after missing most of the 2023 season when he ruptured his ACL playing for the Crusaders.
Perofeta is in line to add to his three test caps after being named at fullback, in what will also be his first test cap since 2022, when he came off the bench against Scotland in Edinburgh.
Finau has been named to wear the No 6 jersey for what would be his second test after debuting at Forsyth Barr Stadium in 2023 where he scored a try during the All Blacks’ dramatic 23-20 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia.
The opening match of the All Blacks 2024 test season will mark the 11th time the All Blacks and England have contested the Hillary Shield, which was introduced in 2008 to honour the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary, and to recognise the links between the two countries.
All Blacks match-day 23 (test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (22)
2. Codie Taylor (85)
3. Tyrel Lomax (32)
4. Scott Barrett (69) (Captain)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu (43)
6. Samipeni Finau (1)
7. Dalton Papali’i (32)
8. Ardie Savea (81) (Vice-captain)
9. T.J. Perenara (80)
10. Damian McKenzie (47)
11. Mark Tele’a (9)
12. Jordie Barrett (57) (Vice-captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (67)
14. Sevu Reece (23)
15. Stephen Perofeta (3)
Reserves
16. Asafo Aumua (6)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (57)
18. Fletcher Newell (13)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (25)
20. Luke Jacobson (18)
21. Finlay Christie (21)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (70)
23. Beauden Barrett (123)
That's all folks
Alex Powell
That's all from us today. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to come back for more coverage as we build into Saturday's season opener!
No new faces - for now
Alex Powell
None of Pasilio Tosi, Wallace Sititi, George Bell, Cortez Ratima or Billy Proctor have been named for this first test of the year.
That's not too unexpected, given Robertson will want his experienced players to start the year well.
But with this squad also in place for the second test and trip to the US to face Fiji, don't expect the newbies to be on the sidelines for very long...
Tuipulotu fit and ready
Alex Powell
As he's assured all week, the Blues captain is ready to go after a knee injury in Super Rugby.
He'll start alongside captain Scott Barrett at lock, with Tupou Vaa'i on the bench.
Remember, they only picked three locks in the squad, so that risk looks to have paid off - for now at least.
Scott Robertson speaks
Alex Powell
“This was a very tough squad to pick, but we’ve selected the best 23 players to beat England on Saturday,” the coach said.
“There is a lot of excitement in the group for our first test and we’re walking together toward this opportunity to represent New Zealand and our families in Dunedin in front of a sold out stadium. We’ve prepared well and we’re ready.”
Sevu Reece returns
Alex Powell
The Crusaders winger returns on the right flank, after missing all of last year's international season with a knee injury.
Mark Tele'a keeps hold of the No 11 jersey, holding off the likes of Caleb Clarke and Emoni Narawa.
Finau wins race for No 6 jersey
Alex Powell
Huge win for Samipeni Finau. The 25-year-old will play just his second test on Saturday, after making his debut last year.
The Chiefs man has held off competition from club teammate Luke Jacobson and Ethan Blackadder of the Crusaders to win the starting spot.
Jacobson will start on the bench, and presumably cover all three loose forward positions.
Perofeta starts at fullback
Alex Powell
Well then, plenty to unpack with this one.
The biggest talking point would have to be Stephen Perofeta beating Beauden Barrett to the No 15 jersey.
But the Blues man has got the nod, and seen the 123-test veteran on the bench wearing No 23, to cover both first-five and fullback
All Blacks team to face England
Alex Powell
Here it is, Razor's first match-day squad:
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Scott Barrett (captain)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Dalton Papali'i
8. Ardie Savea
9. T.J. Perenara
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Mark Tele'a
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Sevu Reece
15. Stephen Perofeta
Reserves:
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Tupou Vaa'i
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Finlay Christie
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Beauden Barrett
Cameron McMillan
Sorry Scotland, you're still not an option.
Cameron McMillan
Will we see any debutants?
Alex Powell
Coach Scott Robertson has named five new players in his 32-man squad, but will we see any of them get a run in Dunedin?
Pick your No 10:
Alex Powell
Rugby rivalries
Cameron McMillan
Not just All Blacks v England this weekend. The Wallabies host Wales under new coach Joe Schmidt while World Cup winners South Africa begin a series against world number Ireland. Is Springboks v Ireland the new big rivalry in rugby? The Boks think so.
Recent history - All Blacks v England
Cameron McMillan
It's been 10 years since England last toured New Zealand! Though not as bad as their northern neighbours Scotland, who last toured down here in 2000.
Interestingly, new vice-captain Jordie Barrett has yet to experience a test win over England. The two teams met just once during the last World Cup cycle, a 25-25 draw at Twickenham. Barrett's first test against England was the 19-7 World Cup semifinal defeat in 2019.
The last time the All Blacks beat England was in 2018. Damian McKenzie started at fullback, Rieko Ioane was on the left wing and Beauden Barrett was at 10. Ardie Savea and Codie Taylor are the only other starters from that win in the current squad. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett and T.J. Perenara came off the bench.
Is Damian McKenzie ready?
Alex Powell
He's had to be patient, but is this finally Damian McKenzie's chance to be the All Blacks' number one No 10?
He'll be up against Beauden Barrett and Stephen Perofeta for the jersey, but Gregor Paul makes a strong case for the Chiefs man.
Pick a halfback
Cameron McMillan
Liam Napier's prediction
Alex Powell
As we wait for the clock to tick closer to 11:30, here's how the NZ Herald's rugby reporter sees the selection tussles going.
Good morning!
Alex Powell
A very good morning to you all, as we prepare to see the first All Blacks 23 of the Scott Robertson era!
All Blacks squad naming - First test
Cameron McMillan
New coach Scott Robertson names his first All Blacks squad at 11.30am.
All you need to know about Scott Robertson’s first test in charge as All Blacks coach.
All Blacks v England - History
England tour New Zealand for two tests, as they return here for the first time since 2014. The two teams open the series in Dunedin this Saturday before squaring off at Eden Park on July 13.
The last time the two teams clashed was at Twickenham in 2022 when England scored three late tries in the final nine minutes to force a 25-25 draw. The previous meeting before that was the 2019 World Cup semifinal when England won 19-7. The All Blacks’ last win over England was in 2018.
England haven’t won in New Zealand since 2003, just their second ever win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil.
Overall record All Blacks v England
Played 43
All Blacks won 33
England won 8
Draws 2
England line-up
England:
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 94 caps) – vice-captain, 2. Jamie George (Saracens, 91 caps) – captain, 3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 39 caps), 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 82 caps) – vice-captain, 5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps), 6. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 5 caps), 7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 36 caps), 8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 31 caps) – vice-captain, 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 16 caps), 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 33 caps), 11. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 9 caps), 12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 25 caps), 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 63 caps) – vice-captain, 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps), 15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 10 caps).
Reserves
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 13 caps), 17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, uncapped), 18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 113 caps), 19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), 20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 51 caps), 21. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 5 caps), 22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), 23. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
When and where is the first test between the All Blacks and England?
The series opener will be played at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, kick-off at 7:05pm, Saturday July 6th.
Who will lead the haka for the All Blacks?
The question may not be answered until Saturday night but T.J. Perenara appears to be the likeliest option should be make his return to the test arena.
Who will be the All Blacks captain?
Scott Barrett was revealed as the new All Blacks captain when the squad was announced last month, replacing Sam Cane. Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett have been named as his vice-captains.
All Blacks v England first test referee
Nika Amashukeli will referee the game. According to Rugby Database, it will be his third time in charge of the All Blacks, which includes the 25-18 defeat to Argentina in 2022.
All Blacks v England expert predictions
Elliott Smith – All Blacks 1-12
Liam Napier – All Blacks 1-12
Alex Powell – All Blacks 13+
Jason Pine – All Blacks 1-12
Nathan Limm – All Blacks 1-12
Elijah Fa’afiu – All Blacks 1-12
Bonnie Jansen – All Blacks 13+
Winston Aldworth – England 1-12
Weather forecast
Forsyth Barr Stadium features a roof so no issue for the players on Saturday but it will be around 7C at kickoff.
All Blacks v England TAB odds
All Blacks: $1.17 Draw: $21 England: $4.60
All Blacks v England: How to follow the action
For live commentary of the match, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.
You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now. An alternative commentary option from the Alternative Commentary Collective is available on iHeartRadio, Hauraki and Sky Sport 9.
You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.