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Hoskins Sotutu named in 29-man All Blacks XV squad
By Ned Lester
New Zealandās best of the rest have been named for their two-match tour of Europe in November, revealing whoās next in line for All Blacks duties in the eyes of Scott Robertson and his selectors.
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Most notably, Super Rugby Pacific MVP Hoskins Sotutu has been named in the squad after missing selection for the All Blacks. He is joined by nine other capped All Blacks.
All Blacks XV coach Clayton McMillan and his assistants ā Cory Jane, Jamie Mackintosh and David Hill ā were also involved in the selection process.
āCongratulations to those selected, this is a special moment for the players and their whanau to represent their country,ā he said.
āEvery player will be looking to put their best foot forward in what will be two intense matches up north, in front of passionate fans. Itās great to have a mix of experience and emerging talent, with players rewarded for solid Super Rugby Pacific and provincial seasons.ā
Scott Robertson revealed on Monday there will be a handful of All Blacks XV players present with the All Blacks squad in Japan at the end of October.
āI am really pleased with the mix of this squad, having players with All Blacks experience alongside emerging talent is important,ā Robertson said.
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āAs an All Black coaching group, we are excited to see these players perform in a Northern Hemisphere environment, to test themselves against different playing styles and build cohesion quickly within the team. With both teams in the Northern Hemisphere at the same time, itās a great chance for the talent who have worked so hard to be given this opportunity to gain experience and express themselves on the international stage.ā
Itās expected the All Blacks will send some fringe players to the All Blacks XV squad for game time across their two matches, explaining why the XV squad boasts just 29 players.
The team will play Munster on November 3rd at Thomond Park Limerick, Ireland, and Georgia on November 11 at GGL Stadium, Montpellier, France.
All Blacks XV squad
Props
Xavier Numia (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
George Dyer (24/ Chiefs / Waikato)
Saula Maāu (24 / Highlanders / Otago)
Marcel Renata (30 / Blues / Auckland)
George Bower (32 / Crusaders / Otago)*
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Hookers
Brodie McAlister (27 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Kurt Eklund (32 / Blues / Bay of Plenty)
Bradley Slater (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Locks
Josh Lord (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki)*
Fabian Holland (21 / Highlanders / Otago)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (27 / Hurricanes / Hawkeās Bay)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
Loose Forwards
DuāPlessis Kirifi (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
Peter Lakai (21/ Hurricanes / Wellington)
Hoskins Sotutu (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau)*
Oliver Haig (22 / Highlanders / Otago)
Christian Lio-Willie (26 / Crusaders / Otago)
Backs (12)
Halfbacks
Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman)*
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Tasman)*
First five-eighths
Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)*
Josh Jacomb (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki)
Mid-fielders
Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)*
Riley Higgins (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington)
AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)
Dallas McLeod (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury)*
Outside Backs
Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki)
Emoni Narawa (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)*
Chay Fihaki (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury)
Shaun Stevenson (27 / Chiefs / North Harbour)*
* Denotes capped All Black.
Feel sorry for Riccitelli, Iose and Sangster who have been standouts in Super Rugby and NPC this year.
I dunno what McAlister and Slater have done better than Ricky but they're nowhere near as good as Riccitelli has been. Slater's even been playing in the back row for Taranaki.
Iose has a huge amount of speed and x-factor. Has Haig been better than him? I don't think so at all.
And Sangster is a big body that has been smashing into rucks, leading well at lineouts and getting around the park very well for the Canes and Steamers.
i think given how loses npc team played he didntreally deserve selectionand i thought kirifi playeda test in australia either against argentina or australia a couple of years ago under foster
Riccitelli and Iose must be wondering how well they have to play.
Good to see Hoskins selected-really feel for him after the super season he has just had
I don't. His work-rate round the breakdown is still lackluster, and he chose to involve himself in Akira Ioane's childish attack on Sititi earlier this year. Just desserts really.
I wouldāve had the mother fakatava in instead of Christie, Daniel Rona instead of McLeod, and probably that young as Otago fullback or anyone really instead of chay fihaki.
Hope Stevenson carves up.
Fihaki played well in the Barbarians/ Fiji game earlier this year. Leads me to believe his current issues may be more down to coaching than form.
You could argue the toss about a few selections but overall this is encouraging - so pleased for the likes of Sotutu and Stevenson, that they haven't been forgotten, and that Holland is now eligible and they can start getting him ready for tests. Interesting that the mid-fielders named seem to be predominantly 12s, meaning Narawa could get a run at centre. Munster and Georgia will really put the heat on those front-rowers, but maybe they'll be reinforced from the ABs...
I think that Proctor will play one of the ABXV games at 13
Narawa is not a centre. Him playing centre in the NPC is less due to him suiting the position, and more due to the lack of ability of others in the team.
Congratulations to those selected. Commiserations to those that weren't. The margins between making it or not at this next bracket down get smaller and smaller. Anyone can turn things around with another good season.
Obviously a lot of talent don't get to go but stoked for Stevenson that he's been rewarded with another opportunity to impress. Theres some powerful ball runners for Hoskins to pair up with their I hope he can set them alight.
Exciting talent up and coming. Us arm chair coaches can't have it all our own way. would liked have seen Pledger, Millar, Mathis and Iose added. Even Tyrone Thompson can only assume he may have signed a leauge contract. but hey they are still fairly young just the experience would have been good for them
Isn't Mathis still 17?
More games and a bigger squad would have been š¤
This is the future. It looks good. Can't say the same for some other teams (South Africa in particular) who have aging squads and not very many replacements for them.