Three All Blacks added to World XV

Aside from Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss and World Cup winners Andy Ellis and Ma’a Nonu, head coach Robbie Deans has included three current All Blacks in the World XV squad.

Robbie Deans’ squad will face Japan on October 26 at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

The game to mark the renewal of the iconic Hanazono ground.

According to Kyodo News, former All Black and current co-captain of Kobe Steelers Andy Ellis will captain the side that contains 1 537 Super Rugby appearances and 525 test caps.

Ellis and fellow Rugby World Cup winners Nonu and Wyatt Crockett are joined in the squad by three members of the All Blacks squad that will face Japan on November 3 – flanks Dillon Hunt and Jackson Hemopo, and fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder.

They are joined by compatriot Augustine Pulu.

New Zealand is one of six countries represented with the side also drawing on past and present internationals from Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Tonga.

Former Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss has also been included in the team. The hooker headlines a strong South African contingent which also includes Willie Britz, Harold Vorster, Corne Fourie, Hencus van Wyk, Lionel Cronje and Jason Jenkins.

Tonga is represented by former captain Nili Latu.

Argentina by Leonardo Senatore while there are two Australians in Sam Carter and Ben Alexander.

The squad also contains Ben Gunter and Keisuke Moriya from Deans’ Wild Knights side, the only two players in the squad who have not played in Super Rugby.

Source: Kyodonews.net