Lions 2017: New Zealand forwards in profile

New Zealand’s three-match series against the British and Irish Lions gets under way with the opening Test in Auckland on Saturday.

That meeting comes on the back of six warm-up fixtures for the Lions, while the All Blacks‘ preparations consisted of a 78-0 hammering of Samoa.

Here we take a closer look at the forwards at Steve Hansen’s disposal over the course of the series.

Scott Barrett
Crusaders
Age: 23
Position: Lock
Test Caps: 5
Test Tries: 1

Barrett joins brothers Beauden and Jordie in Hansen’s squad but four of his five caps to date have come from the bench, so don’t expect him to make the starting XV for the opening Test.

Sam Cane
Chiefs
Age: 25
Position: Flanker
Test Caps: 41
Test Tries: 12

An influential figure with the All Blacks, Cane was part of New Zealand’s leadership group before he had even tied down a regular starting berth. Captained the side for one match at the Rugby World Cup, becoming the country’s fifth-youngest skipper in history.

Dane Coles
Hurricanes
Age: 30
Position: Hooker
Test Caps: 49
Test Tries: 9

Will collect his 50th cap if picked during the series but is the All Blacks’ main injury concern after suffering with knee and calf problems, as well as concussion symptoms. Has not played since March 18.

Liam Coltman
Highlanders
Age: 27
Position: Hooker
Test Caps: 1
Test Tries: 0

Called into the squad as injury cover for Coles, Coltman is unlikely to see too much action over the course of the three matches.

Wyatt Crockett
Crusaders
Age: 34
Position: Prop
Test Caps: 59
Test Tries: 2

Crockett is the oldest member of the All Blacks squad and, while he remains a canny operator in the front row, he is generally utilised from the bench these days.

Charlie Faumuina
Blues
Age: 30
Position: Prop
Test Caps: 47
Test Tries: 4

Faumuina, like Crockett, is another prop who has had to rely on appearances from the bench for the All Blacks. Played an hour of the Blues’ win over the Lions.

Vaea Fifita
Hurricanes
Age: 25
Position: Lock
Test Caps: 1
Test Tries: 1

Fifita is one of the players called up to the squad as injury cover but made a big impact on his debut against Samoa last week, scoring one of the All Blacks’ 12 tries.

Owen Franks
Crusaders
Age: 29
Position: Prop
Test Caps: 91
Test Tries: 0

One of the All Blacks’ most consistent performers, Franks rarely misses a match, which has contributed to his huge haul of Test caps. Franks is the 10th most-capped player in New Zealand history.

Nathan Harris
Chiefs
Age: 25
Position: Hooker
Test Caps: 5
Test Tries: 2

Harris started his career as a number eight before switching to the front row.

Akira Ioane
Blues
Age: 22
Position: Number 8
Test Caps: 0
Test Tries: 0

Another player called up as injury cover, Ioane is yet to make an appearance for the All Blacks, although brother Rieko has donned the famous jersey on two occasions.

Jerome Kaino
Blues
Age: 34
Position: Flanker
Test Caps: 78
Test Tries: 12

Kaino is one of the most experienced players in this New Zealand squad. On the comeback trail following knee surgery and was fit enough to start against Samoa last week.

#AllBlacks forwards Brodie Retallick and Jerome Kaino join the media for the latest update ahead of the first Test. #NZLvBIL #LionsNZ2017 pic.twitter.com/USoMFXPlk2

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 19, 2017

Joe Moody
Crusaders
Age: 28
Position: Prop
Test Caps: 25
Test Tries: 1

Has been a regular in the starting XV since replacing the injured Tony Woodcock for the knockout stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Kieran Read (Captain)
Crusaders
Age: 31
Position: Number 8
Test Caps: 97
Test Tries: 31

Appearances in all three Tests would see Read become only the seventh man to reach 100 caps for New Zealand. Sat out the Samoa match following wrist and thumb injuries but looks set to win his race to be fit for the opening Test.

Brodie Retallick
Chiefs
Age: 26
Position: Lock
Test Caps: 61
Test Tries: 2

Retallick was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014 and went on to be a key member of the side that won the World Cup in 2015.

Luke Romano
Crusaders
Age: 31
Position: Lock
Test Caps: 26
Test Tries: 2

Romano started just one Test in 2016 but will hope to force himself into Hansen’s thoughts for at least one of the matches against the Lions.

Ardie Savea
Hurricanes
Age: 23
Position: Flanker
Test Caps: 13
Test Tries: 4

He may not make headlines like try-machine brother Julian, but Ardie Savea has become a regular in the squad and made his first appearance at number eight against Samoa.

Liam Squire
Highlanders
Age: 26
Position: Flanker
Test Caps: 8
Test Tries: 1

Made three starts for the All Blacks at the back end of 2016 but has been trying to recover from a broken thumb in the build-up.

Codie Taylor
Crusaders
Age: 26
Position: Hooker
Test Caps: 16
Test Tries: 4

Started against Samoa in the absence of the injured Coles but may have to settle for a bit-part role if Coles regains full fitness.

Matt Todd
Crusaders
Age: 29
Position: Flanker
Test Caps: 8
Test Tries: 0

Stepped into the position vacated by the great Richie McCaw with the Crusaders but is only in this squad as injury cover, so will not be expecting much game time.

Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Blues
Age: 25
Position: Prop
Test Caps: 4
Test Tries: 0

Yet to start a Test for the All Blacks, Tu’ungafasi made four appearances from the bench in 2016.

Sam Whitelock
Crusaders
Age: 28
Position: Lock
Test Caps: 85
Test Tries: 5

Another of Hansen’s experienced heads, Whitelock is as sure a bet as any to be part of the starting XV for the opening Test against the Lions on Saturday.