ABs Selectors Name Strong Attacking Squad

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named a strong attacking squad for the upcoming test series against the British & Irish Lions and the warm-up hit-fest against Samoa next week.

The #AllBlacks squad to take on the British & Irish Lions has been named. FULL SQUAD: https://t.co/uPpFDRIwYd#TutiraMai pic.twitter.com/ctuAALguDr

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 8, 2017

Notable inclusions :

Sonny-Bill Williams: was in devastating form for the Blues last night, which surely secured his place in the mid-field, possibly in a starting role given the injury cloud over Ryan Crotty.

Aaron Smith: recent upsurge in form for the Highlanders was enough to make the team, despite being largely absent during the first half of Super Rugby. TJ Peranara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow will continue to battle it out for the bench spot.

Ngani Laumape: the first New Zealand Warrior to crossover into an All Blacks squad, well-deserved on recent form.

Rieko Ioane: too small, too young for many, but this guy is just way too good to leave out. The same goes for Jordie Barrett, certainly not too small these days and likely a mainstay of the All Blacks setup over the next few years.

Ioanes & Barretts: the ABs love to keep it in the family and as the Whitelocks and Franks’ have slowly diminished, the incredible Barrett trio and two dynamic Ioanes have risen to the fore, albeit if Akira is only injury cover at this stage. We can’t wait to see these guys in action.

Israel Dagg: certainly adds a spark, along with reliable defence and a whopping punt, but might consider himself a bit lucky given his limited game-time in 2017 and the Super Rugby form of….

Notable Exclusions: 

…Damian McKenzie: this will be a huge talking point and we wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up in the squad as the injuries pile up elsewhere. NZ Rugby will need to manage this one carefully or risk losing another incredible talent to European rugby. Maybe some consolation that he made the Maoris squad.

Malakai Fekitoa: hard to argue with his dropping; form has been average while others have shone. Easy decision really.

Stephen Luatua: was never a certainty but recent form should have at least put him in the wider squad. Ultimately, signing up for a European OE seems to have sealed his fate.

Nehe Milner-Skudder: another unlucky player who probably hasn’t had enough game time this year and lacks the proven performances of a Dagg or Smith to pull him through.

Other Big Questions for the Pundits: 

1. Does Lima Sopoaga still belong in the ABs squad when Richie Mo’unga has been so devastating for the Crusaders (Same could be said for Cruden, but at least he’s a proven performer)?
2. Where did Jack Goodhue come from?? What a revelation for Canterbury, but hard to see him competing with the likes of SBW based on last night’s form.
3. Is Anton Lienert-Brown lucky to be there?
4. Will Wyatt Crockett ever go away?!
5. Without Kieran Read, are we too thin in the loosies?

All these questions and more! Have your say below and on Twitter @rugbypass

Full Squad:

Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Nathan Harris, Rieko Ioane, Jerome Kaino, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Joe Moody, Waisake Naholo, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (captain), Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Ardie Savea, Julian Savea, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Liam Squire, Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Sam Whitelock, Sonny Bill Williams.