Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Ngani Laumape called into All Blacks Rugby Championship squad alongside uncapped prospect

(Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

Ngani Laumape has been called into the All Blacks squad for next month’s Rugby Championship in Australia.

ADVERTISEMENT

After much speculation over the past few weeks, the news was confirmed by the All Blacks on social media on Tuesday, with Laumape replacing Braydon Ennor, who has been sidelined for the season after rupturing his ACL in the North vs South match.

Laumape had missed out on the initial 35-man squad to face the Wallabies in the first two Bledisloe Cup matches, kicking off this weekend in Wellington, due to a broken forearm sustained during a Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against the Crusaders.

Video Spacer

Wallabies fullback Tom Banks speaks to media

Video Spacer

Wallabies fullback Tom Banks speaks to media

Prior to that injury, the 27-year-old stood out as one of the most impressive performers in the New Zealand Super Rugby competition through his explosive ball carrying, underrated speed and subtle touches in his game.

He was subsequently regarded a lock-in pick for the first All Blacks squad of the year, but the injury that has kept him out of action for two months robbed him of that chance.

However, Laumape now has the chance to add to his 13 test caps, although his next appearance in the black jersey isn’t likely to be on Sunday when the All Blacks square off against the Wallabies at Sky Stadium.

Laumape will be joined in a strong midfield contingent – that also consists of Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue – by his uncapped Hurricanes teammate Peter Umaga-Jensen.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 22-year-old created a formidable midfield pairing with Laumape for the Wellington franchise throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa, and has been rewarded with a call up into Ian Foster’s squad as cover.

Impressing with his strong running lines and distribution skills, Umaga-Jensen becomes the second player called into the squad as injury cover after uncapped Crusaders lock Mitchell Dunshea was last week brought in to replace the injured Quinten Strange.

It is unlikely either will feature against the Wallabies this week, although all will be revealed when the All Blacks team is announced on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Freddie Thomas: 'OMFG, I've been selected for Wales - my mum was bawling her eyes out' Freddie Thomas: 'OMFG, I've been selected for Wales - my mum was bawling her eyes out'
Search