Five All Blacks released by Foster ahead of Bledisloe series

Five players have been released from Ian Foster’s All Blacks squad back to their provincial rugby teams in order to secure more game time in NPC pre-season action this weekend according to a report by Stuff.co.nz.

Suspended All Black centre Anton Lienert-Brown, flankers Luke Jacobson and Samipeni Finau have been sent back to Waiktao while Josh Lord, who started against Argentina in Mendoza, has been released back to Taranaki.

The fifth returnee is uncapped halfback Cam Roigard, who will feature for Counties Manukau after being surplus to playing requirements over the first two rounds of The Rugby Championship.

Of the five, only Josh Lord has seen any game action for the All Blacks so far this year with Finau and Roigard patiently waiting for a chance to push for their first caps.

The five players will play in the  Chiefs Country Centurion Cup competition, which will see four teams compete in a quadrangular style play-off with Waikato playing Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty facing Taranaki in two 50-minute games.

The winners will then face off in a final while the two losing teams will play for third place in another fixture.

The players will return to All Blacks camp on Sunday for Bledisloe preparations before heading to Melbourne on Thursday.