International rugby: All Blacks squad naming for England tour of New Zealand
Relive coverage of the first All Blacks squad naming of 2024 - Scott Robertson’s squad to face England.
That's all folks
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That'll be it from us for today.
But there won't be any shortage of reaction in dissecting Robertson's first squad.
There'll be plenty to come over the next few days, as we build towards next month's season-opening test.
Thank you for joining us!
Have your say:
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Vote on the biggest shock of Robertson's first squad here.
Which Super Rugby side has the most players picked?
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Unsurprisingly, it's the Blues, with nine. The Chiefs are next, with eight. The Crusaders and Hurricanes have seven each.
There's only one Highlander - Ethan de Groot.
Robertson on new call-ups
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“It’s a proud moment for them and their families," said Scott Robertson.
"They’ve earned their places through performance and consistency and it’s an exciting time in their careers.
"As coaches, we will get them ready so they can take their opportunity when it comes.”
Four extra players
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Just confirmed, four extra players will also help the team prepare as injury cover:
Ruben Love, Sam Darry, George Bower and David Havili
Who will start at fullback?
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No Ruben Love or Shaun Stevenson as specialists leaves either Beauden Barrett and Stephen Perofeta as two possible options to wear No 15 against England.
Damian McKenzie could also slot in at the back, but has made it very clear he wants to be the All Blacks' first-five this year.
Will Jordan, who was expected to be Robertson's go-to at fullback, is currently injured.
Scott Barrett speaks
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The new captain has spoken for the first time:
"I'm hugely honoured and grateful for the opportunity to captain the All Blacks," he told Sky.
"I understand it's a huge job, and there's a lot of pressure that goes with it.
"But I'm excited to see where this team's going."
Where is Sam Cane?
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The former All Blacks captain suffered an injury while playing in Japan, and was not considered for selection.
Who's missed out?
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There are some huge calls here.
Biggest of all is Hoskins Sotutu, who has been a standout for the Blues all year, but looks like he's been pipped by Sititi.
Ruben Love is another, who looked to have been the standout fullback in the competition. Stephen Perofeta has taken that spot in the squad.
Sam Darry can also consider himself unlucky, but only selecting three locks has been a big call.
Five new players
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Pasilio Tosi is a bolter in every sense of the word. The 25-year-old has started just six games for the Hurricanes this season.
Wallace Sititi has peaked at the right time for the Chiefs, while George Bell and Cortez Ratima take the third hooker and halfback spots respectively.
Billy Proctor is the last new face, and comes into the squad at David Havili's expense.
Only three locks
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Wow, so much to go through
Only three locks have been named, and one of them is Patrick Tuipulotu, who is carrying a knee injury worry
Captain named
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Scott Barrett has been chosen as captain. Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett are vice-captains.
Still waiting on captain
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Scott Robertson is about to speak for the first time.
First squad named
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Props: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi (uncapped), Tamaiti Williams
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, George Bell (uncapped), Codie Taylor
Locks: Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi (uncapped)
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima (uncapped)
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor (uncapped)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
Now we wait...
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NZ Rugby chair Dame Patsy Reddy will read the 32 names of Robertson's first squad.
Not long to go...
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For those just joining us, the first real question is who has Scott Robertson picked as his captain?
Scott Barrett? Ardie Savea? Or someone else?
How will the squad be picked?
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This is arguably the most interesting selection panel the All Blacks have ever had.
All of Scott Robertson's coaching team have a part to play in just who gets the call-up.
Forwards coach Jason Ryan is overseeing the tight five, while Robertson himself has the loose forwards.
Defence coach Scott Hansen will pick the halfbacks and first-fives, while set-piece coach Jason Holland has the midfield, and attack coach Leon MacDonald does the back three.
Speaking earlier this month, MacDonald told Sky Sport this squad will be split into 18 forwards and 14 backs.
One hour to go
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Still waiting for the first squad of the Robertson era.
On the other side of the captaincy equation is Scott Barrett.
Ardie Savea definitely has the backing of the public, and his fellow players.
But Barrett's relationship with Robertson could see him get the nod.
Asked earlier this month, Barrett himself said "it would be a huge honour" to lead his country.
Who's missing?
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This first squad of 2023 will look different to last year's World Cup.
Aside from Whitelock and Retallick, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, Shannon Frizell, Nepo Laulala and Leicester Fainga'anuku have headed overseas.
And of those that stayed, Sam Cane, Cam Roigard, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Will Jordan are injured for the England series at least.
That's a fair bit of experience to make up for Robertson and his fellow selectors.
Two hours to go
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We're still counting down to Razor's first squad.
One player who should find himself back will be Patrick Tuipulotu.
The 31-year-old has been out of the reckoning due to injuries over the last couple of years, but has more than pressed his case by leading the Blues to a Super Rugby title this year.
That came after he was expected to miss the end of Super Rugby and the start of the All Blacks' season with a knee injury.
Lock is an area of concern for Scott Robertson after Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick left New Zealand at the end of 2023, but Tuipulotu is a safe pair of hands that he surely can't ignore.
Bolter watch
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The term "bolter" is probably used too often these days.
However, Wallace Sititi of the Chiefs has genuinely put himself into the conversation to fill that tag.
He's up against some pretty stern competition to be included in the loose forwards, but his coach Clayton McMillan asserts Sititi has done enough:
“You’d have to think that he’s as good a chance as anybody,” McMillan said. “He’s been pretty consistent with his performance.
"He’s young and still has plenty to learn, but some people just have something about them, don’t they, that catches the eye and he’s one of them."
Who will be Razor's first captain?
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While there is reason to believe Scott Barrett will be the man to lead the All Blacks, Gregor Paul makes a strong case for Ardie Savea to take the role.
How many new faces?
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While we won't know for certain until the squad is named, but Liam Napier predicts up to five uncapped players.
All Blacks squad naming
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Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks squad will be announced at 5.30pm.
When is the All Blacks squad for England announced?
Scott Robertson’s first-ever All Blacks squad will be announced today at 5.30pm.
Who will be the All Blacks captain?
Coach “Razor” Robertson has indicated he’s told the next All Blacks captain of his incoming status. Still, he won’t confirm the anointed leader until unveiling his first national squad following the Super Rugby final.
Earlier this year, Sam Cane announced he won’t lead the side in 2024 before walking away from international rugby at the end of the year to take up a three-year contract in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath.
Scott Barrett and Ardie Savea are the leading contenders to grasp the captaincy role after Cane announced he was stepping aside.
“There’s been conversations and discussions that have been had with players,” Robertson said. “That’s all I can say. It will be announced when we name the team.”
Who do the players want to be captain?
Former skipper Kieran Read believes Scott Barrett’s existing relationship with the coach could be the decisive factor in determining who will be named as the next All Blacks captain.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s D’Arcy Waldegrave, Read outlined that despite the excellence of Savea, Barrett should be considered the front-runner for the job.
“It’s a tough one, both have great attributes,” the former captain said. “Scooter’s [Barrett] done it for a while with the Crusaders and been pretty successful. Ardie, I think, in terms of his ability to inspire and get players to follow him is pretty impressive in the All Blacks jersey.
“There’s a couple of pretty awesome options... It’s a hard call, I think potentially Scott Barrett if I’m thinking of someone, because of where he’s sat. He’s led a lot of teams, and the relationship with Razor probably leans it to him. But Ardie would be fantastic, right? He’s an amazing player and a great leader in his own way.”
Asked about his own desire to lead his country, Barrett admits he’d be willing to take on the role, even if it’s far from his thoughts at the moment, after sitting out the end of the Crusaders’ season following another back niggle against the Queensland Reds in early May.
“I guess that’s something I’d be open to,” Barrett professed. “But my focus right now is to get back on the park, if I’m going to be honest. It’d be a huge honour to do that, for whoever is in that position, I guess.
“Those decisions are fully on Razor. We’ve had conversations over the past five or six months around the All Black[s] environment, and areas that are critical going forward. Ultimately, the decision sits with him.”
Aaron Smith and Dalton Papali’i are both backing Ardie Savea to assume the coveted role.
Who has been named in the England side?
England head coach Steve Borthwick has selected six uncapped players in his 36-man squad for the upcoming three-test tour of Japan and New Zealand.
The uncapped players include Fin Baxter from Harlequins, Gabriel Oghre from Bristol Bears, Joe Carpenter and Tom Roebuck from Sale Sharks, Luke Northmore from Harlequins and Ollie Sleightholme from Northampton Saints, who is the Premiership’s top scorer this season and the son of former England winger Jon Sleightholme.
The squad, which will be captained by Jamie George, consists of 20 forwards and 16 backs. England will first face Japan in Tokyo on June 22, followed by tests against New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and Auckland on July 13.
Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins, uncapped) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps) Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 5 caps) Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 4 caps) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 50 caps) Theo Dan (Saracens, 12 caps) Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 17 caps) Ben Earl (Saracens, 30 caps) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps) Jamie George (Saracens, 90 caps) captain Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps) Maro Itoje (Saracens, 81 caps) Joe Marler (Harlequins, 93 caps) George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps) Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears, uncapped) Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 5 caps) Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 38 caps) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
Backs: Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 2 caps) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps) Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 8 caps) George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 9 caps) Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 24 caps) Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 15 caps) Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped) Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps) Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 62 caps) Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 2 caps) Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 32 caps) Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 5 caps) Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps).
Can Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett play for the All Blacks this year?
The trio of Savea, Beauden Barrett and Cane all enjoyed a sabbatical from Super Rugby Pacific this season and have spent 2024 playing in Japan’s Rugby League One but are available for All Blacks selection.
What’s happening with All Blacks eligibility?
At the moment the status quo remains: to play for the All Blacks, you must play in New Zealand – except for unique cases like sabbaticals.
While South Africa edged the All Blacks to win the World Cup with only 15 of their 33-man squad playing domestically, New Zealand Rugby has been resistant to such a change in policy.
Robertson said when taking charge he wanted those in power to “keep an open mind” about a potential alteration but in March, Savea went even further.
“Times are changing. Things are moving fast,” Savea said. “What worked five, 10, 15 years ago maybe can’t work now. We’ve just got to be innovative and smart around what we’re doing.
“The country that’s proven that it works, that it helps, is South Africa. The majority of their team’s playing [offshore] and they come together and win the World Cup. I don’t think it’s going to change drastically, but I just think that something needs to evolve and grow.
“Maybe it’s the new coaching group and new management that’s coming in and bringing fresh ideas, that could be it.”
The All Blacks’ most-capped back, halfback Aaron Smith, has also advocated for a change in criteria that allows long-serving veterans to be selected from offshore.
All Blacks’ 2024 test schedule
Saturday July 6, 7.05pm – All Blacks v England, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Saturday July 13, 7.05pm – All Blacks v England, Eden Park
Saturday July 20, 2.30pm – All Blacks v Fiji, SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego
Saturday August 10, 7.05pm – All Blacks v Argentina (Rugby Championship), Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday August 17, 7.05pm – All Blacks v Argentina (Rugby Championship), Eden Park
August 31, TBC – All Blacks v South Africa (Rugby Championship), Johannesburg
September 7, TBC – All Blacks v South Africa (Rugby Championship), Cape Town
September 21, TBC – All Blacks v Australia (Rugby Championship), Sydney
September 28, 7.05pm – All Blacks v Australia (Rugby Championship), Sky Stadium
October 26, TBC – All Blacks v Japan, Yokohama
November 3, 4.10am – All Blacks v England, Twickenham
November 9, 9.10am – All Blacks v Ireland, Dublin
November 17, 9.10am – All Blacks v France, Paris
November 24, 9.10am – All Blacks v Italy, TBC