All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has called in five rookies after losing three more players to injury ahead of the second clash with the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday.
Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman, Blues rake James Parsons, Chiefs young gun Damian McKenzie, Chiefs centre Seta Tamanivalu and Blues outside back Rieko Ioane have all been drafted in.
Hansen called up the quintet on Monday after his squad was ravaged by injuries before and during their 42-8 thumping of the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney last Saturday.
Hooker Codie Taylor and inside centre Ryan Crotty have been ruled out of Saturday’s Test with head knocks, while winger Waisake Naholo has injured his hamstring.
Midfielder George Moala and hooker Nathan Harris had been ruled out earlier in the week with knee injuries suffered while training in Sydney.
“It’s a great opportunity in a year when we’re trying to re-establish ourselves, trying to get some faces involved in the group that in the long term could possibly be here,” Hansen told reporters in Wellington.
chucked
Guest
The Argies will beat the Abs at home Squirrel? .You on the plonk or what. Australia were rubbish but made to look that way by a dynamite performance from the AllBlacks. NZ are streets ahead. We have injury issues and call up 4 or 5 youngsters...Aust calls up the Arab four from France with average age of 30 or so. Out of those young players at least 2 if not 3 will be stars of the future..and do you know how I know that?its because it's happened time and time again. for the All Blacks..they give young players a start. Aust gives young players a reason to go abroad
Shane D
Roar Rookie
About 10kgs in weight & 3cm in height.
Lara
Guest
Didn't expect Reiko to be called up so soon, but the AB selectors can see talent . Reiko is still at least 2 yrs away before he develops into a centre, but I hope he gets a taste at test level this weekend.
Squirrel
Guest
Wallabies to lose by 60-70. Our tight 5 are terrible especially the 2nd rows.
Squirrel
Guest
The wallabies are that bad making this ab side look fantastic. Argentina will beat the abs at home. England are the only other side that can beat them.
Squirrel
Guest
Yeah Cooper, Genia and slipper will give us victory. Wake up
CUW
Guest
nah , i think both are equally talented , but the little one is bigger and harder , thus his more robust tackling :)
Ngati Tumutumu
Roar Rookie
I don't see Tamanivalu starting as IC, it is either Anton LB or Fekitoa at IC, if ALB starts Feks stays at OC if Feks moves to IC Tamanivalu will be OC imo.
Ngati Tumutumu
Roar Rookie
And NMS is how much bigger than Mckenzie?
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Ahh the 3rd pick AB team is just as good as their No 1 team imo. Did you notice that the Hurricanes easily beat Wales 2 months ago :)
canadiankiwi
Guest
Sopoaga has been in the squad for two seasons. He is the third 10 and only played one test in which he was very good in victory against the Springbok. If he is not going to play at 10 then shift him to 12. Sopoaga started at 12 on a U20 World Cup winning team. He is the same size Crotty is (91kg) and is a better distributor, ball runner, and far better tactical kicker. He is not the outstanding defender that Crotty is but he is not a poor defender either. If you don't play Sopoaga somewhere, the All Blacks are going to lose him to an overseas team.
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
Yes and as usual ALL the new replacements are just as good as the 1st pick players they are replacing. Will make no difference to the AB performance. In fact they'll win by lots more in Wellington this week :)
Scrumma
Guest
Bang on and the same goes for Mckenzie too many mistakes
Scrumma
Guest
Coltman had an awesome season last year and this year his form was bang on till he got injured that made Joeseph livid and he should've been in there before Cody Taylor but you know hansen has a magnet to the crusaders.
Zack
Roar Rookie
I can see Luatua taking an overseas contract for the 2018 season onwards as he's clearly played himself out of All Blacks contention, against excellent younger competitors coming on stream. BTW, I'd forgotten all about Sopoaga as anther centre option til I saw you backline/bench selections.
Zack
Roar Rookie
McKenzie, unfortunately, is simply too small to be effective on the wing. Full back or 10 if he starts at all..
CUW
Guest
http://www.planetrugby.com/news/video-mitre-10-cup-top-tries-round-1/
Nobrain
Guest
A second string ABs side will probably win the RCH.
canadiankiwi
Guest
I was really impressed with Fekitoa's distribution and defense in Sydney. His draw and pass was as good as the off-loading he had demonstrated in Super Rugby (he led the comp in off-loads). His defense was brilliant. I did not think that Fekitoa had the passing skills to play 12, he was solid but unspectacular playing 12 the second half of the Highlanders season. However, after Sydney, I believe he could play 12 at test level if the All Blacks need him to with the injuries to Crotty, SBW, and Ngatia.
canadiankiwi
Guest
I thought Dagg was his usual self. The good: he injected himself into the attack frequently and made several big plays and he made huge clearance kicks to relieve pressure. The bad: he committed a few silly unforced errors and he made most of his tackles but fell a few also (including the Phipps try). Typical Israel Dagg match (since 2014): good but with errors that he did not consistently make between (2010-2013).