The All Blacks arrived in Australia on Thursday night missing three key players whose wives are expecting babies in the next few weeks.
Stand-in captain Sam Whitelock, scrumhalf Aaron Smith and flyhalf Richie Mo’unga were all left out of the 35-strong travelling squad for the Perth Test and coach Ian Foster revealed they might also miss the first two TRC matches against Argentina in Queensland.
“I’d be surprised if it wasn’t three. I don’t really want to say too much beyond that,” Foster said.
“We don’t want to put any expectation or pressure on families. It’s pretty extraordinary times.
“We’d prefer to have all our experienced players on deck but this is a chance to grow a bit of depth by necessity.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“We’re massively supportive of the decisions they’ve made for their families.
“I know the team is 100 per cent behind them, and I know they’re very keen to jump on a plane as soon as they can. It’s been difficult saying goodbye to them, but the reality is that’s what we have to do in these times.
“The fact it would normally mean people missing one test and now they might miss three or four complicates the whole issue, but the solution is pretty simple.”
Hooker Codie Taylor is expected to replace Whitelock as captain as the All Blacks attempt to sweep the series 3-0.
Whitelock took over in New Zealand’s five Tests this season from regular captain Sam Cane, who is recovering from a pectoral injury.
Hooker Dane Coles also has been omitted from the travelling squad because of a calf muscle injury.
Whitelock, Smith and Mo’unga are expected to rejoin the New Zealand team for matches next month in the Rugby Championship, depending on quarantine and other issues.
Beauden Barrett is the only specialist flyhalf in the squad named on Thursday by head coach Ian Foster.
After playing the Wallabies in Perth on September 4, the All Blacks will move to Queensland for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
The squad will then move on to the United States and Britain, without returning to New Zealand, for an end-of-season tour which will likely keep players away from home for around 14 weeks.
“We’ll be playing 10 Tests in 12 weeks in both the southern and northern hemispheres and with COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions, this will be a tour like no other for us in the professional era,” Foster said.
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor, George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta,avao, Karl Tu,inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu.
Backs: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.
(With The Associated Press)
Faith
Roar Rookie
Micky mouse
Faith
Roar Rookie
Or probably interviews of Red Berry.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Like re-runs of the 1 TT win by your so-called mob.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Why are you spending so much time on my so-called 'undisciplined raft of words. I would assume a big fella like you has a big important job to go and many more important things to stay up late for.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"you not only took the time to read my long post" Oh dear, you do get ahead of yourself - just plain dim. What you presented was in primitive form - an undisciplined raft of words - which signaled any opinion expressed would be as unintelligible and not worth reading. Consequently I am a bit like you in that I have no idea who or what you wrote about. :stoked: You offered, in the very first line, your intimate name for your close personal friend Poo-Poo, or someone, and a swift scan read found a couple of other examples worth mocking. School tomorrow, off you go to bed now li'l fella.
Faith
Roar Rookie
For someone pretending to be so dismissive it's impressive that you not only took the time to read my long post but also 'edit' it lol. You sir are the mystery.
PatrickP
Roar Rookie
Ahh yes, NYE babies!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha SD, as yes Rennie does sound more & more like Cheika, & I agree, but ' balanced journalism ' in this country, will never happen, as long as we still have the Murdoch NewsCorp gutter trash media, in place.
CUW
Roar Rookie
sure - i bet ur A 10 as well :laughing: :laughing: the last young 10 all blacks chose couldnt even get a start in super rugger :silly: but then NZ are the best and noone can beat them :stoked: :stoked:
Soap Dodger
Roar Rookie
Muzzo, that is right but one wonders why Rennie persists with this grumpy po-faced whining all the time, as though the whole world is against him. There is little doubt that the Wallabies will win in Perth so why can he not just contain his griping and grizzling, go about his business, be magnanimous in victory and then leave it to the balanced journalists to declare a glorious new dawn for his team? That would be a positive story. At the moment Rennie is starting to look more and more like Cheika and no one really wants to hear it.
Jeff Ashton
Roar Rookie
What are the odds Scott Barrett will give: away a penalty, sin binned 10 minutes/yellow card or sent off/red card. I'm taking wagers.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
It is ever so impressive to read comment here from close personal friends of the players, it offers an intimate insight, oh yes it does. The difficulty for the commoners who don’t receive invitations to the same barbeques and family get togethers as you evidently do, Faith, is that your besties “Niggie” or “Noggie” and “Boot Scooter” are complete strangers. “Paddy”, “Brad” – who are they again? “Props.” hanging out there in isolation is a mystery too.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha Dave!! Actually, you should save those tissues for Rennie, & his lot, as Rennie's come out again whinging about the ' baby boom ' hitting your lot!! Lol :laughing:
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha Ethan, & yet Rennie has come out whinging again, but this time it's over the ' baby boom ' hitting his lot!!! Lol :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
It might seem like special pleading but the Highlanders are a decent side that are frustratingly inconsistent not unlike other NZ Super rugby sides excepting the Crusaders. Yet, it seems that their players seem to have a harder time of being picked. Another player I will highlight is Billy Harmon. He is a Canterbury player who came south for a chance and he really took it. While I'm not sure he should be picked ahead of any of the players who have, he is not not really a serious candidate in the selectors eyes. Ethan Blackadder who had a great year makes the cut and deserves a chance, is it because they trust him because he is part of the Crusaders machine?
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
If McCaw wanted to have a wife and kids before he met Gemma Flynn I have no doubt he would’ve gone out of his way to meet someone special and start a family. The point I was making was that he didn’t do that. He stayed focused on the All Blacks.
Ex force fan
Guest
You have amazing powers of observation.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Big wait in NSW too.
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
Ex Force Fan Sure Whitelock, A Smith and Mo’unga may be not be playing but with replacements of Scott Barrett, TJ Penerea and Barrett it is hardly a team of rebuilt. If anything it is an opportunity for the Wallabies to achieve a win. You may be disappointed with the change in dates but we are not going to have an opportunity to see any of the games. When you have finished can you send us a box of your tissues?
Sylvester
Guest
"....he not only didn’t have kids while he was playing, he didn’t even get married while he was playing. He was totally focused on victory." Might also have something to do with his wife being an international sportswoman...