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All Blacks squad announced with Scott Barrett named captain
By Ned Lester
New coach Scott Robertson has announced the 32 men who will represent New Zealand against England and Fiji in the coming July Tests.
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With eight of the 33-strong squad that made it to last year’s World Cup final now plying their trade overseas and therefore ineligible for selection, opportunities under the new coaching regime are plentiful in 2024 and a number of emerging and resurgent talents have profited.
The newcomers are George Bell, Billy Proctor, Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi and Pasilio Tosi.
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Injuries to the likes of Sam Cane, Cam Roigard, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Will Jordan have also potentially paved the way for some more inclusions. Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta and Sevu Reece are all back in the mix.
Just three locks have been named, with Sam Darry also joining the squad as cover for Patrick Tuipulotu who recently made a quick return from an MCL injury. Ruben Love, David Havili and George Bower have also been named as extended squad members.
Scott Barrett has been named captain, with Jordie Barrett and Ardie Savea vice-captains.
“There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important. He’s tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches,” Scott Robertson said.
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“Leadership is a shared responsibility and Ardie, Jordie and our wider leadership group will be crucial to how we come together and connect ahead of the first Test against England.
“As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we’ve selected. We know it’s a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024.”
The youngest squad member is rookie Wallace Sititi at 21. Robertson congratulated the No. 8 along with the other four newcomers.
“It’s a proud moment for them and their families. 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.”
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All Blacks squad
Hookers:
Codie Taylor
Asafo Aumua
George Bell
Props:
Ethan de Groot
Tyrel Lomax
Fletcher Newell
Pasilio Tosi
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Tamaiti Williams
Locks:
Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Barrett
Tupou Vaa’i
Loose Forwards:
Ethan Blackadder
Samipeni Finau
Dalton Papali’i
Luke Jacobson
Ardie Savea
Wallace Sititi
Halfbacks:
Finlay Christie
TJ Perenara
Cortez Ratima
First five-eighths:
Damian McKenzie
Beauden Barrett
Midfield:
Jordie Barrett
Rieko Ioane
Anton Lienert-Brown
Billy Proctor
Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke
Emoni Narawa
Stephen Perofeta
Sevu Reece
Mark Tele’a
Scott Robertson is the best International Coach in the World Rugby. He excites players to be the best they can be. Team culture and Personal Growth are his philosophy. Don’t be fooled by his Happy Go Lucky Persona.
His coaching record speaks for itself. 7 consecutive Super Rugby Championships. A total of ten rugby titles. 2015 Under 20 World Champs All Blacks. He is constantly adjusting his tactics. He has an all time 84% WIN Record.
Conversely Steve Borthwick has a 65% WIN record for the Leicester Tigers and a 59% WIN rate for England. Plus England have WON twice in New Zealand in 120 years.
I am sure this new All Black team will be a “Force” to be reckoned with and will be a much happier team with a great culture and play scintillating rugby, which will outsmart any “Tactics Borthwick will employ”
To think that Borthwick will suddenly improve his game tactics by 25%+ against Robertson in New Zealand is simply “a fairy tale”
After the Poms get thrashed in the two tests here, he will probably be looking for a new gig.
All Blacks 43 + England 9 and no tries
Love your confidence and he’s certainly the right man for the job I believe (wasn’t so sure 4 years ago) - it’s a big step up however and the resurgent Poms, Irish, Boks and French are all very strong relative to teams in the past.
Scott Robertson has not proved himself on the international scale yet. Lots of hype and pressure on him to succeed. I think the team is rather weak in my opinion only.
Barrett seems risky for the captaincy. Unless this Razor fella was impressed by Cane getting sent off in a world cup final. Perhaps that’s the new standard?
There has been so much messing around with the fullback that hardly any team has a fulltime / specialist 15. Too many hybrids 10 / 15s and converted wings. Stevenson is probably the only “proper fullback” in Super Rugby.
And ENS the only true Dagg/Jane, or Ben Smith type that can do both (love Jordan at the back but he doesn’t have specialists kicking ability) from wing or fb?
Razor has his team and the coaches he wanted. Hopefully he gets treated with more respect by the press and fans than the previous coach. Like other coaches, he has two options - win or win - with no excuses. That’s the job description. Failure will bring criticism, especially as he has been placed on a pedestal by many.
I really thought that Ardie Savea had shown enough leadership quality to be All Black’s Captain. I am shocked that he was overlooked but I guess Scott is not a bad choice other
Yeah he basically said he wanted someone he knew instead and out in that role.
Some good players were always going to miss out on this squad, I’m just surprised which ones they are.
There were some very bold selections done on the back form that just can’t be ignored in the case of Sititi, Tosi, Aumua, and Proctor.
But then players like Sotutu, Love, Lakai, who had similarly breakout seasons were left out in favour of incumbents with injury effected seasons and middling form like Jacobson, Blackadder, and Perofeta, which seems incredibly UNbold. Foster-esque in fact.
Hurricanes underwhelming end to the season probably cost some of their players getting over the line, but there are a large number of Chiefs forwards included at the expense of Blues forwards who made them look like amateurs.
Razor and co having their first game against a strong England team was always going to be a difficult start, some of these random selections (like no specialist 15 against a team who LOVES high kicks and have an outstanding chasing game) seems to be increasing the difficulty level, but makes the team announcement all the more intriguing.
I have to wonder what it would have been like if Cane was fit, and it was the complete same static bunch of loosies picked lol
Yeah, not surprising is it really. Well, theres a want, to have seen something different, but thinking like Gregor Paul that theres little inherent institutional knowledge in an AB environment is going to have you making wild calls.
You just had to listen to the script that MacDonald came out with on The Breakdown when asked what are the requirement from back players to know that these guys are reading off the institutional song sheet. Not that I don’t think Razor would like to have that changed in time.
That backup 10/15 spot was always going to be the interesting one wasn’t it. I never bothered to really match up the numbers and was just telling myself were going to have some weird stop gap mix of Havilli in there, along with some other form of new fullback. Pero actually fills that (now we know) single spot nicely, and although he’s as uninspiring as BB from the back, he’s actually fitting that safety role Leon was perhaps hinting (directly) to?
I posted a comment asking for clarification on Sam Darrys status in the squad, I’ve since found my answer elsewhere but I’ve come back to find my comment has been labeled as spam. Can anyone else see it? This has never happened to me before and I checked for similar comments but there aren’t any. The only explanation I can think of is that I quoted the article which is so silly if that’s the reason.
Something similar happened to me about two weeks ago. I added a link to a post, and it simply never appeared….did not get any spam notice though.
Selecting the dirtiest player in the team as captain is very risky.
Savea has had almost double the cards Warren.
Nah Finau is far dirtier
A rather dull affair in the end, don’t know why Razor was so nervous. They need to have it as like a SR awards/winners dinner and All Black presentation.
Fairly predictable side, with Razor and co definitely falling on the side of All Black tradition and transitioning the existing group. The time for change will come later.
I think the All Blacks most likely missed the boat over the last few years promoting Bell over Tyrone Thompson. I would have preferred if things developed faster for him and he’d have time to win selection.
Would have loved if Razor got asked what position or role Blackadder was picked for. Surprised theres no presser?
Who is Tyrone Thompson? Picked Blackadder for a hard man tackler, since there aren’t any in this team apart from Ardie. Thought that was obvious.
No Sotutu or Lakai but Blackadder gets in somehow. Sititi got included because his stats speak for themselves and he was a clear standout in a team that was completely dominated in a final. But Sotutu had his best year ever and still misses out. I wouldn’t have Finau in the team either. The guy is a penalty magnet thanks to poor discipline as he has consistently shown all year.
I thought George Bower did enough for a recall in a losing Crusaders team and did not expect Tosi to get in ahead of him. You’d have to think if Numia did not get injured he’d be there instead.
And Bell over Riccitelli is confusing because Riccitelli had a hell of a year and throws lineouts pretty consistently.
It’s really tough isn’t it
I’m not sure what else Sotutu could do
I’d like to know the reasons why
However Sititi has been a revelation too and even when his side is getting beaten up on Saturday produced a great performance
Lakai will get in there - he is so young too but suffers because of the incumbents
Papalii and Ardie cover 7 and Blackadder (also 6 and a lineout option)
Jacobsen is a strange one but on reflection has played very well and topped the tackle count on Saturday
Again good cover in all three
Bell!! Now that is shocking Sader bias from Ryan
Riccitelli has been outstanding
Bell can’t even throw!!
Finau I am now worried about.
Bower is in the cover group but good to see the massive and explosive Tosi get a crack too
Blackadder is incumbent. I didn’t hear an unavailable list but I assume he’s in for Cane?
That final performance might have cost Riccitelli.
Tough choice for 8 for sure, so you didn’t say which you’d pick?
Gutted for Hoskins. I would have him ahead of Blackadder and Jacobsonnin the pecking order.
And Perofeta over Reuben Love? That’s messed up.
George Bell better up his game too. Would’ve given Ricky Rick a shot over him, but I guess they figure Bell is the future and Ricky is an injury cover at best.
I think it was Sotutu vs Sititi for a place, rather than Blackadder or Jacobson.
It seems they have 2 for each place - 8. Ardie/Sititi, 7. Papali’i/Jacobson, 6. Finau/Blackadder. So Jacobson there at the expense of Lakai, and Blackadder and Finau the only two real options at 6 at the moment.
I’m not convinced by Love
But neither am I by Perofeta
Different positions. Either Ardie or Sititi. Yep, cheap squad. Not sure why they wouldn’t start big and dwindle down. I hope Pero is the backup 10 is all I can say. My pick was Plummer, but I obviously didn’t workout the numbers/cover up in my head well enough. Happy for Narawa though as he earnt his WC last year and same again this year.
Ireland are going to win the world cup 🥤
Absolutely. In fact, there’s no point in having the tournament. They should just ship the trophy to Ireland. The other countries can have a tournament and the winner can pay the shipping and handling.
If England win in NZ - then I’m sure they’ll become overnight favourites to win the World Cup. And if they lose, they’ll be called the worst team in the world in England.
Who are Ireland stealing from us this time? Jordie Barrett?
What has this got to do with Ireland?
Haha Nah they will be very strong in getting thru to the 1/4s lol. Then lose again….Hehe
Where did that come from?