Eight players that didn't make the All Blacks World Cup cut

The All  Blacks 2023 Rugby World Cup squad announcement for has left rugby fans with a mix of excitement and a mabe a dash of disappointment on behalf of a few players.

While the chosen 33 players gear up for the tournament in France, let’s delve into the players who narrowly missed the selection:

Shaun Stevenson
Maybe the hardest done by on the list. Relatively recent All Black debutant Shaun Stevenson’s omission is a little puzzling, given his strong form.  His exclusion may have come as a result of bolter Emoni Narawa making the plane.

Samipeni Finau
Despite his remarkable rise, the flanker was an outside bet to make the cut for the World Cup squad. The selectors’ decisions were undoubtedly tough, with Finau losing out to more experienced counterparts in what is a pretty settled All Blacks back row department.

Dallas McLeod
Another recent debutant, McLeod’s showcased promise was always going to struggle to crack a heavily stacked outside backs department.

Brad Weber
Having been on All Blacks XV duty of late, it was no great surprise that Weber couldn’t displace the trio of Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, and Cam Roigard in the scrum-half competition, despite having done very little wrong in black over the years.

Folau Fakatava
As with Weber, Faktatava was an outside bet. The competition in the scrum-half position was simply too fierce.

Braydon Ennor (Injury)
Injury appears to have struck Braydon Ennor at a crucial juncture.

Joe Moody (Injury)
Unable to recover in time, the experienced prop’s absence due to injury is an expected blow to the All Blacks’ front row.

Ethan Blackadder (Injury)
Fan-favourite flanker Ethan Blackadder has been struck down by another cruel injury blow in the leadup to today’s All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad naming. Blackadder was a standout during his maiden Test campaign in black a couple of years ago, but the backrower has struggled with injuries ever since.

NEW ZEALAND 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP SQUAD

HOOKERS: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor

PROPS: Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Nepo Laulala, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams

LOCKS: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Samuel Whitelock

LOOSE FORWARDS: Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Pap ali’i, Ardie Savea,

HALFBACKS: Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith

FLYHALFS: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga

MIDFIELD: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown

OUTSIDE BACKS: Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Emoni Narawa, Mark Telea