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Ian Foster has named five debutants in his 36-man squad for The Rugby Championship, with Crusaders midfielder Dallas McLeod the biggest bolter to emerge from a star-studded list of contenders.
Sam Cane, who has been one of New Zealand’s best in 2023, has retained the captaincy despite coming under serious pressure to retain his spot in Foster’s side over the past three years.
“Sam has proven himself as a great leader of our team despite having had a disrupted couple of seasons leading into this one,” Foster said. “We have total belief that he is the right man to lead us.”
While the uncapped Shaun Stevenson, who has been arguably the best fullback throughout this year’s Super Rugby competition, has only been listed as injury-cover.
Foster said Stevenson, who has scored 11 tries and been one of the Chiefs’ best in their run to the final, needed to work on the defensive side of the game.
He isn’t the only big name omission either, with Chiefs back-rower Pita Gus Sowakula and halfback Brad Weber also missing selection. As did Blues back-row duo Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu.
While calls for New Zealand Warriors recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to get an early release will undoubtedly increase after missing selection, too.
Shaun Stevenson missed Ian Foster’s 36-man squad, but has been included as “injury cover”. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
There was always going to be some controversial selections and shattered dreams given four of New Zealand’s five franchises finished in the top five of this year’s Super Rugby standings.
But even missing a plethora of players including prop Joe Moody, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, back-rower Ethan Blackadder, utility back David Havili and winger Sevu Reece, Foster has named a strong squad that features world class playmakers Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
Veteran hooker Dane Coles was also named alongside Samisoni Taukei’aho and Codie Taylor.
Alongside McLoud, other uncapped players included Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams, Chiefs back-rower Samipeni Finau, Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard and Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa.
“I love the blend, we’ve got a lot of experienced players who know what it is to get ready for a World Cup, to get ready for Test matches,” Foster said.
“We’ve got a group that’s been through a lot of adversity and built a lot of character last year, and we’ve got a really nice blend of young players.”
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster says he has “total belief” in captain Sam Cane. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Who wears the No.10 jersey remains to be seen, but Mo’unga, who will head to Japan following the World Cup, must be in the box seat after yet another sublime match where he helped destroy the Blues on Friday night in the Crusaders’ big semi-final win.
While Foster has toyed with playing two-time World Rugby player of the year Barrett at fullback to accommodate Mo’unga, the Crusader’s partnership with Will Jordan could see a change in the wind in his selection decision-making.
Where McKenzie fits into the piece remains to be seen too, but the 28-year-old’s incredible form for the Chiefs, where he guided the Hamilton-based side into their first Super Rugby final since 2013, could see him pip Barrett for a place in the 23.
Rising Crusaders back Dallas McLeod has been named in Foster’s All Blacks squad. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
As for McLeod, Foster said injuries to Quinn Tupaea and Havili gave him the perfect opportunity to see the rising Crusaders utility back.
“We see Dallas primarily being a midfielder. Probably 12. It’s an area with Davy [Havili] and Quinn [Tupaea] on the injured list, it’s a chance for us to have a look at him there,” Foster said.
“But his versatility – I thought he’s played really well on the wing. It’s probably been a selection by necessity. He’s fast and strong. He’s courageous under the ball, a great chaser of the ball. I guess it’s his versatility that’s going to be critical for us. We’ve got a chance in a slightly bigger squad to bring him in and see where it goes.”
Meanwhile, an All Blacks XV side was also named. Extraordinarily, Sotutu was not even named in the squad.
Hookers:
Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 76)
Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 84)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Props:
Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 13)
Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 45)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 50)
Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 23)
Locks:
Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawkes Bay, 100)
Josh Lord (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 2)
Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 143)
Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 58)
Tupou Vaa’i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 18)
Loose forwards:
Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 70)
Dalton Papali’i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 22)
Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Sam Cane (captain) (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 86)
Samipeni Finau (24, Chiefs / Waikato, *)
Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 25)
Halfbacks:
Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatu, 114)
Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 14)
Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, *)
First-five eighths:
Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 112)
Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 40)
Richie Mo’unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 44)
Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 60)
Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 48)
Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 59)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 6)
Dallas McLeod (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, *)
Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 15)
Emoni Narawa (23, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 2)
Will Jordan (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 21)
Injury cover: Shaun Stevenson
Props
Jermaine Ainsley (28, Highlanders, Otago)
Oli Jager (27, Crusaders, Canterbury)
Tevita Mafileo (25, Hurricanes, Bay of Plenty)
Xavier Numia (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Aidan Ross (27, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Ricky Riccitelli (28, Blues, Taranaki)
Tyrone Thompson (23, Chiefs, Wellington)
Locks
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (23, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Quinten Strange (26, Crusaders, Tasman)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (26, Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
Loose Forwards
Billy Harmon (28, Highlanders, Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (28, Blues, Auckland)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (26, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Christian Lio-Willie (24, Crusaders, Otago)
Pita Gus Sowakula (28, Chiefs, Taranaki)
Cameron Suafoa (27, Blues, North Harbour)
Backs:
Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (23, Highlanders, Hawke’s Bay)
Brad Weber (32, Chiefs, Hawke’s Bay)
First-five-eighths
Brett Cameron (26, Hurricanes, Manawatū)
Stephen Perofeta (26, Blues, Taranaki)
Midfielders
Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders, Northland)
Alex Nankivell (26, Chiefs, Tasman)
Billy Proctor (24, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Bailyn Sullivan (24, Hurricanes, Waikato)
Outside Backs
Sam Gilbert (24, Highlanders, Otago)
AJ Lam (24, Blues, Auckland)
Ruben Love (22, Hurricanes, Wellington)
Etene Nanai-Seturo (23, Chiefs, Counties Manukau)
Jona Nareki (25, Highlanders, Otago)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.