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All Blacks reveal 33-man Rugby World Cup squad to head to France
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks have named their 33-man squad to head to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a split of 18 forwards and 15 backs.
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New Zealand Rugby chair Dame Patsy Reddy introduced former captain Richie McCaw to announce the squad in Hawkesā Bay in front of a packed local audience at Pettigrew Green arena in Napier.
Captain Sam Cane will lead Ian Fosterās side as they chase a fourth World Cup title in the sideās history.
The squad was largely similar to the Rugby Championship squad but recent All Black debutants Shaun Stevenson, Samipeni Finau and Dallas McLeod missed out on final selection. Josh Lord, who started against Argentina, was not named as they opted against extra lock cover despite concerns for Brodie Retallick.
Injury seems to have struck down Crusaders centre Braydon Ennor while one of the big surprises was the return of David Havili who completed a return to action for Tasman over the weekend.
The big surprise was Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa who made the final cut after his debut against Argentina a month ago. The 24-year-old has been battling a back issue since his first Test.
Despite coming under an injury cloud, lock Brodie Retallick has been named to attend his third Rugby World Cup alongside Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaaāi in the second row.
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Retallick is expected to be sidelined for four-to-six weeks which would see him miss the first two pool games.
With two extra squad spots available the All Blacks used them on an extra prop, taking the position total to six, and they named three first fives after only using two in 2019.
Joe Moody failed to return to fitness so the selectors went with starters Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax, young props Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams, and veterans Ofa Tuāungafasi and Nepo Laulala.
Beauden Barrett, Richie Moāunga and Damian McKenzie are the No 10s named but Barrett is likely to be used as a fullback. The outside backs were able to be boosted by the addition of Narawa as a result.
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Neither Brad Weber or Folau Fakatava were able to displace Cam Roigard, Finlay Christie or Aaron Smith, who are the three No 9s selected.
They will open their campaign on September 8 with a blockbuster clash against home nation France, who recently fell below New Zealand in World Rugbyās menās rankings.
The All Blacks will have one final hit out on August 25 against the Springboks at Twickenham before their campaign.
All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad:
Hookers (3): Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Samisoni Taukeiāaho (Chiefs) Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
Props (6): Ethan de Groot (Highlanders), Nepo Laulala (Blues), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders), Ofa Tuāungafasi (Blues), Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders)
Locks (4): Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Tupou Vaaāi (Chiefs) Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
Loose forwards (5): Sam Cane (Chiefs) (captain), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Dalton Papalii (Blues), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Halfbacks (3): Finlay Christie (Blues), Cam Roigard (Hurricanes), Aaron Smith (Highlanders)
First fives (3): Beauden Barrett (Blues), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Richie Moāunga (Crusaders)
Midfielders (4): Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), David Havili (Crusaders), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)
Outside backs (5): Caleb Clarke (Blues), Leicester Faingaāanuku (Crusaders), Will Jordan (Crusaders), Emoni Narawa (Chiefs), Mark Telea (Blues)
Says the babbling moron.
Sorry for winding you up man :-P. I give up, it's late. Here's the rub: You criticise (the coach) and yet detest criticism yourself. You also contradict yourself attempting to justify. But it's your disrespectful referencing that makes me truly confident in saying, you're just a fucking idiot. Goodnight.
Hey, you tagged me with the shit post crybaby. Stop playing the victim. it's embarrassing. Your unsolicited posts scream "personal issues." Feel free to fuck off & get help.
So meds is prevalent in your life and sounds like your a billy-no-mates narcissistic keyboard warrior. Explains a lot. You're too easy. No competition at all.
This would be my All Blacks 2023 Rugby world cup squad
Props:
Ethan de Groot
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Joe Moody
Tyrel Lomax
Nepo Laulala
Tamaiti Williams
Hookers:
Dane Coles
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Asafo Aumua
Locks:
Sam Whitelock
Brodie Retallick
Scott Barrett
Tupou Vaa'i
Loose Forwards:
Shannon Frizell
Samipeni Finau
Ethan Blackadder
Sam Cane
Ardie Savea
Luke Jacobson
Halfbacks:
Aaron Smith
Brad Weber
Cam Roigard
First fives:
Richie Mo'unga
Damian McKenzie
Beauden Barrett
Midfielders:
Jordie Barrett
David Havili
Rieko Ioane
Anton Lienert-Brown
Outside backs:
Will Jordan
Leicester Fainga'anuku
Mark Telea
Emoni Narawa
Shaun Stevenson
Seriously they put caleb clarke in the squad shaun stevenson shsould have gotten that role instead of caleb clarke probably only used his because hes the son of eroni clarke aswell as that tamaiti williams would be one of the reasons why our scrums will fail due to his weight compared to most props but i dont hate tamaiti williams hes a good player but just use him with fair heighted and weighed props with him and at first im like no brad weber!? but good thing hes a injury cover still not good enough
But i still support my team 100% hope Sam Whitelock can make 150 tests and laulala to make 50.
Well, it's either meds or you're lonely. Either way, fuck off retard.
Unbelievably poor selection in terms of only 5 loose forwards and 6 outside backs (including Beauden Barrett).
This is made even worse with Brodie Retallick being injured for 6 weeks, leaving the All Blacks only 3 healthy locks for the first 2-3 pool games at least).
Caleb Clarke should have been dropped for Samipeni Fineau or Josh Lord.
Yeah, IDEALLY, for me I'd swap out Caleb for Fineau, & would've picked Weber over Christie & Jager over Laulala. That said, can't get 100% "wants" right? Time to Back Black for better or worse.
Agree the balance of this squad seems off. A lock down, they are still expected to fill in for loose forwards if required (SB and Vaii). Loose forwards are expected to fill in for lock. I would have left Nepo at home and taken 5 props. Two sets and one extra to play either side. Also would have left Clark out so we could carry an extra lock and loose forward since Beaudy floats between first five cover and fullback.
Caleb Clarke is luckier than the weekly lotto winner - maybe all 52 winners combined š¤
I think I would have picked a half back to pair with DMac who has played a bit more with him than Christie has...
Foster's still an incompetent fraud being elevated by Ryan & Schmidt as far as I'm concerned. But now that selection's done, I'm Backing Black 110% to win RWC2023.
Excellent squad, my only question mark was Nepo but hey, someone's gotta prop against Namibia & Uruguay, right?
Good grief, contradictory at all?
The All Blacks will win the Rugby World Cup 2023 and make history this year!