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Ian Foster and Sam Cane retained as All Blacks name squad for Rugby Championship

Ian Foster and Sam Cane. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Ian Foster and Sam Cane have been retained as All Blacks coach and captain, respectively, for the Rugby Championship.

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The All Blacks confirmed on Friday that both individuals have kept their roles within the national set-up despite a historic home series defeat to Ireland last week, which was labelled as “not acceptable” by New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson.

Despite that, Foster and Cane have been kept in their respective positions, despite recent media reports that the latter was set to be axed as skipper of the national team.

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      Instead, Cane will lead a 36-man All Blacks squad to South Africa for two tests against the Springboks next month.

      All up, Foster has made only two changes to his squad that faced Ireland, dropping France-bound prop Karl Tu’inukuafe and debutant loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula in favour of Ethan de Groot and Shannon Frizell.

      Three additional players – prop Tyrel Lomax, utility back Braydon Ennor and uncapped lock Josh Dickson – will travel with the side to South Africa as reserves.

      Lomax, Ennor and Dickson are providing cover for the suspended Angus Ta’avao and injured duo Brodie Retallick and Jack Goodhue.

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      Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan Blackadder and Josh Lord were all not considered due to injury, while Damian McKenzie was deemed ineligible after his sabbatical in Japan.

      “We have taken on board the lessons from the Steinlager Series and are excited about looking forward to the next phase of our test season,” Foster said in a statement.

      “The Rugby Championship plus the Bledisloe Cup remain our top priorities. This is a real chance to show what we are about as a team.”

      No comment has yet been provided about the status of Foster’s assistant coaches, all of whom were reported to be in the firing line in the wake of series loss.

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      The All Blacks will open their Rugby Championship campaign against the Springboks at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on August 6. Both sides will then square off again at Ellis Park in Johannesburg the following week.

      All Blacks squad to play in Rugby Championship

      Hookers

      Dane Coles
      Samisoni Taukei’aho
      Codie Taylor

      Props

      Aidan Ross
      George Bower
      Nepo Laulala
      Ofa Tu’ungafasi
      Ethan de Groot
      Angus Ta’avao

      Locks

      Scott Barrett
      Brodie Retallick
      Patrick Tuipulotu
      Tupou Vaa’i
      Samuel Whitelock

      Loose Forwards

      Sam Cane (c)
      Shannon Frizell 
      Akira Ioane
      Dalton Papalii 
      Ardie Savea
      Hoskins Sotutu

      Halfbacks

      Finlay Christie
      Folau Fakatava
      Aaron Smith

      First five–eighths

      Beauden Barrett
      Richie Mo’unga
      Stephen Perofeta

      Midfielders

      Jack Goodhue
      David Havili
      Rieko Ioane
      Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
      Quinn Tupaea

      Outside backs

      Jordie Barrett
      Caleb Clarke
      Leicester Fainga’anuku
      Will Jordan
      Sevu Reece

      Replacement players travelling to South Africa:

      Josh Dickson
      Braydon Ennor
      Tyrel Lomax

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      Comments

      15 Comments
      A
      Another 1032 days ago

      Q) How many All Black coaches does it take to change a lightbulb?


      A) They don’t change anything.

      J
      Jmann 1032 days ago

      Soooooo - absolutely no change at all then. That should fix things up.

      M
      Martin 1032 days ago

      What changes would you make ? thanks

      R
      Ricardo 1032 days ago

      Looking forward to see how they can turn it around in South Africa

      T
      Tomasi 1032 days ago

      Hear, hear! We'll see what this team is made of over the next few weeks.

      G
      GM 1032 days ago

      No wonder Joe Schmidt's not travelling to South Africa - he wants to keep his distance!

      Not surprised about Sam Cane's retention as captain. How can Foster sack Cane without splattering egg all over his own face? South Africa is last ditch for both of them.

      M
      Mark 1032 days ago

      Oh dear, pretty much as expected however

      R
      Richard 1032 days ago

      All the All Blacks needed to beat Ireland was Ethan De Groot? Who knew it was so simple

      R
      Ricardo 1032 days ago

      …and Shannon Frizell

      W
      Wayne 1032 days ago

      Whitewash!

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