Prop Karl Tu’inukuafe is the biggest name culled by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen as he unveiled his squad for the Bledisloe Cup Tests in August.
Hansen has trimmed his initial Rugby Championship squad of 39 to 34 for Tests against the Wallabies in Perth and Auckland, in the process effectively ending the World Cup selection hopes of a handful of players.
Forwards have primarily been hit hardest, with uncapped five-eighth Josh Ioane the only player losing his place among the backs.
Blues prop Tu’inukuafe is a surprise omission, having burst onto the scene with 13 Tests in his rookie international season last year, earning a starting loosehead berth in big season-ending Tests against England and Ireland.
The powerhouse scrummager struggled for the same form at Super Rugby level with the Blues this season and was hampered by injury.
He didn’t play in either of New Zealand’s Rugby Championship Tests this month – the tense 20-16 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires and last Saturday’s 16-16 draw with South Africa in Wellington.
The other forwards to make way were flankers Shannon Frizell and Dalton Papali’i, hooker Asafo Aumua and lock Brodie Retallick.
The world-class Retallick was ruled out by a shoulder dislocation which the All Blacks are confident can heal in time for the World Cup.
His place is filled by Scott Barrett, the only squad addition after overcoming a finger injury.
Sonny Bill Williams has been included but will miss the Perth Test, with Hansen eager for the injury-plagued veteran inside centre to get game time under his belt at provincial level.
Backs
Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber.
Forwards
Kieran Read (capt), Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Matt Todd, Luke Jacobson, Vaea Fifita, Jackson Hemopo, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Liam Coltman.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Mapu – agree. If he has a weakness, it’s ref management. Whitelock is more competent in that facet. Tana and McCaw were geniuses in picking battles and planting mental seeds.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
It's going to be a wait & see RT.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Jacobson could be 2019 breakout player of WC. Fifita hasn't had a great season to date.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Not terrible, but two bad handling errors leading to turnovers. Has lost a bit since back injury I reckon. Still a good player and a lineout target, and respected as a captain, but not as influential around the pitch as he was.
OTN
Roar Rookie
That is easy to say when you are not the young white kid born after 1994 to a low income family and are having to pay the price for your parents evils. Every form of racism is evil and unacceptable. You address the past by upgrading facilities and ensuring that all citizens with talent have access to the same opportunities, not by putting some down to bring some up.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Kicking is NEVER guaranteed, no matter where on the field !
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Jacko- excellant call. Mat be the hopeless TMO should have his one eye open and give the Ref the mark (if he gets it wrong)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Why though? If TJP has proved time and time again that he won’t start the big ones because it’s Smith that provides the space. Surely you’d at least want to test Mo’unga ‘all else being equal’. I think that was a mistake.
Jacko
Guest
Tman Hansen is just as likely to have deliberately selected TJ to start just to put Mounga under as much pressure as possible and see how he handled it....He doesnt have a issue with testing his players....( Sopounga run on debut v SA )
Jacko
Guest
Not because of distance tho at 22 or 23 meters
Jacko
Guest
I noticed when the ref played advantage he eventually came back to the penalty and ,arked the spot 1.5 mtrs from where he had first indicated it.......I would give him 10 in the bin too
Jacko
Guest
I thought Read was quite good against SA
1eye
Roar Rookie
is more of a case of sixs not being sevens and seeing a five ( Barrett) being a six!
U
Roar Rookie
They will struggle against the mighty wallabies who beat a very strong Argentinian team
Tony
Guest
An opinion - someones got to stick up for TJ - His try in the SR semi against the Crusaders gave the Canes a real chance to beat them until an incorrect ref decision stopped their momentum. He gets crucial turnovers aka Ardie S - he got 2 against the Boks last Sat and is a great defender and support player. Hes an exceptional quick thinker on the field and his passing is nowhere near as laboured as some of you would like us to think - If it was the Canes wouldn't have been able to score 60 tries in this years SR let alone nearly make the Final. He is also the second to top ( active player ) all time try scorer in SR. This fascination with St Aaron Smith is over the top. While hes got a great pass hes also prone to making errors aka the last Bok try ( hes admitted he shld have stopped it ) and in the main he had a fairly ordinary SR season. Steve H obviously doesn't share your views on TJ.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Don't know about "better" option, but Cane and Savea just not the sort of players for 6 under Hansen's game plan. The AB 6 needs to be a serious lineout option for a start.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Probably not because the very best person has not been chosen based on merit every time. I don't believe in discrimination based on race which this is what it is for whatever reason or whatever the aim is.
taylorman
Roar Guru
That's good to hear, then they can remove it... That's going to change the face of the game worldwide too. SA will occupy the niche NZ has had in the pro era and for me in a much greater dominance. Imagine the potential earnings for these players in 10 years. The numbers on a supply and demand basis alone suggest a huge shift is coming up...
Terminator
Guest
Wow, long day at work, I forgot to nclude 5 Whitelock and 23 Weber (yes I know reserve SH wears 20)
taylorman
Roar Guru
You mean as opposed to how much potential there could be in the future? The quota can't argue with the here and now in terms of the status quo of SA rugby, its case is in the future, surely. You talk about how much talent is lost with the quota. I'd say about a millionth of what has been lost by holding back the majority of the population for a century.