Summer Touring Squad Announced

[Puja]

A boost, but Tuipolotu is still a massive step down from Whitlock or Retallick.

True, but a big step up from Vaa'i or Darry.

Puja

[FKAS]

A boost, but Tuipolotu is still a massive step down from Whitlock or Retallick.

True, but a big step up from Vaa'i or Darry.

Puja

Well you'd hope so, he's seven or eight years older than the other two and has 40 odd caps to their handful. It's an area the ABs are going to have to suck it up and blood new players sooner rather than later though.

Dalton Papalii playing this weekend despite failing a HIA last weekend I believe. Could be a concern for Robertson, he takes another bang to the noggin this weekend and he might need an extended rest period. The backrow is likely to need a rejig as it stands as well with no obvious option at 6 (Frizzel being unavailable in Japan) and Cane not being considered.

[Puja]

A boost, but Tuipolotu is still a massive step down from Whitlock or Retallick.

True, but a big step up from Vaa'i or Darry.

Puja

Well you'd hope so, he's seven or eight years older than the other two and has 40 odd caps to their handful. It's an area the ABs are going to have to suck it up and blood new players sooner rather than later though.

Dalton Papalii playing this weekend despite failing a HIA last weekend I believe. Could be a concern for Robertson, he takes another bang to the noggin this weekend and he might need an extended rest period. The backrow is likely to need a rejig as it stands as well with no obvious option at 6 (Frizzel being unavailable in Japan) and Cane not being considered.

I thought Finau was the shoo-in for 6?

Puja

[FKAS]

True, but a big step up from Vaa'i or Darry.

Puja

Well you'd hope so, he's seven or eight years older than the other two and has 40 odd caps to their handful. It's an area the ABs are going to have to suck it up and blood new players sooner rather than later though.

Dalton Papalii playing this weekend despite failing a HIA last weekend I believe. Could be a concern for Robertson, he takes another bang to the noggin this weekend and he might need an extended rest period. The backrow is likely to need a rejig as it stands as well with no obvious option at 6 (Frizzel being unavailable in Japan) and Cane not being considered.

I thought Finau was the shoo-in for 6?

Puja

I only Super Rugby intermittently but isn't he the guy with issues over hitting players late?

Last couple of articles I saw were suggesting 6 was an issue position with Blackadder a sick note and Frizzel overseas. With Chiefs march to the final (I've only seen highlights) could be Finau is now the frontrunner.

[FKAS]

The 32-strong Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps)

Forwards (18)

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6)
Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 85)
George Bell* (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 0)

Props
Ethan De Groot (25 / Highlanders / Southland / 22)
Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 32)
Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 13)
Pasilio Tosi* (25 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 0)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 57)
Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 7)

Locks
Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 69) (Captain)
Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 25)
Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 43)

Loose Forwards
Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 10)
Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 1)
Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 18)
Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 32)
Ardie Savea (30 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81) (Vice Captain)
Wallace Sititi* (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 0)


Backs (14)

Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (28 / Blues / Tasman / 21)
TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 80)
Cortez Ratima* (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 0)

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 123)
Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 47)

Mid-fielders
Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 57) (Vice Captain)
Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 67)
Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 70)
Billy Proctor* (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)

Outside backs
Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 20)
Emoni Narawa (24 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 3)
Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 23)
Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 9)


[* denotes new cap]
The following players were not considered due to injury: Sam Cane, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Cam Roigard.

Blues lock Sam Darry, Hurricanes outside back Ruben Love and the Crusaders pair of prop George Bower and midfielder David Havili will also assemble with the squad as cover.

[Banquo]

Damn would have liked to see Jordan

[Puja]

Hoskins Sotutu ignored despite breaking the record for tries scored by a forward in Super Rugby. He'll be back England qualified by Nov 2025...

Puja

[FKAS]

Hoskins Sotutu ignored despite breaking the record for tries scored by a forward in Super Rugby. He'll be back England qualified by Nov 2025...

Puja

He's got a contract to 2026 and the NZRU will release him from it only when a massive pile of cash is handed over to them.

His omission is very odd as is Ioane. Thought they looked good in combination for the Blues.

[Puja]

Hoskins Sotutu ignored despite breaking the record for tries scored by a forward in Super Rugby. He'll be back England qualified by Nov 2025...

Puja

He's got a contract to 2026 and the NZRU will release him from it only when a massive pile of cash is handed over to them.

His omission is very odd as is Ioane. Thought they looked good in combination for the Blues.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek. If he'd be switching to anyone, it'd be because a French side have offered a tonne of money and he then becomes eligible for Fiji again.

I think Ioane is heading to Japan so, while technically still available for NZ right now, he's not going to be there going forwards.

Puja

[FKAS]

Hoskins Sotutu ignored despite breaking the record for tries scored by a forward in Super Rugby. He'll be back England qualified by Nov 2025...

Puja

He's got a contract to 2026 and the NZRU will release him from it only when a massive pile of cash is handed over to them.

His omission is very odd as is Ioane. Thought they looked good in combination for the Blues.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek. If he'd be switching to anyone, it'd be because a French side have offered a tonne of money and he then becomes eligible for Fiji again.

I think Ioane is heading to Japan so, while technically still available for NZ right now, he's not going to be there going forwards.

Puja

Fair point on Ioane though he's made it clear he's only going because he wants the cash to ensure his son has a good upbringing. If the NZRU had found him a regular spot in the national side and a couple of endorsements to up his income he might have stayed.

If Sotutu is after the cash then lining up a move to a Prem side with a marquee spot free and then rolling into the England side with £20k per appearance would do him pretty nicely. You're right though only the French clubs can afford the buy out clause.

[Timbo]

Imagine having 3 sons who grow up to become respectively captain, vice-captain & starting 10 for the AllBlacks. Insane.

[Danno]

And the Captain isn't even the best player among the three

[Cameo]

Well you'd hope so, he's seven or eight years older than the other two and has 40 odd caps to their handful. It's an area the ABs are going to have to suck it up and blood new players sooner rather than later though.

Dalton Papalii playing this weekend despite failing a HIA last weekend I believe. Could be a concern for Robertson, he takes another bang to the noggin this weekend and he might need an extended rest period. The backrow is likely to need a rejig as it stands as well with no obvious option at 6 (Frizzel being unavailable in Japan) and Cane not being considered.

I thought Finau was the shoo-in for 6?

Puja

I only Super Rugby intermittently but isn't he the guy with issues over hitting players late?

Last couple of articles I saw were suggesting 6 was an issue position with Blackadder a sick note and Frizzel overseas. With Chiefs march to the final (I've only seen highlights) could be Finau is now the frontrunner.

He puts in some brutal hits, a couple of which people have complained were late, but not sure he was penalised for them.

If I was Robertson, I think I would pick Papalii, Finau, and Savea. There are the usual calls to 'stop playing Savea out of position!!!' but I actually think he's best at 8. Be interesting to see whether Setiti gets on the bench, but more likely to be Blackadder (either there or starting).

[Timbo]

Looks a very strong New Zealand squad to me. No real weaknesses, tons of power & pace. I think if we play really well we can be competitive, but hard to see too many areas that we’ll have an edge. Need some of the younger players to really step up.

[FKAS]

Looks a very strong New Zealand squad to me. No real weaknesses, tons of power & pace. I think if we play really well we can be competitive, but hard to see too many areas that we’ll have an edge. Need some of the younger players to really step up.

Very true. We might edge their tight five at lineout time. The AB flyhalfs aren't well known for their tactical kicking games either so we might well look to control territory look to our lineout to apply pressure. Be a big onus on Marcus Smith applying more control, though his 50/22 at the weekend was exactly the type of brilliance we'd need.

[Banquo]

Imagine having 3 sons who grow up to become respectively captain, vice-captain & starting 10 for the AllBlacks. Insane.

4th brother was possibly headed to the ABs as well but retired at 24

[morepork]

Looks a very strong New Zealand squad to me. No real weaknesses, tons of power & pace. I think if we play really well we can be competitive, but hard to see too many areas that we’ll have an edge. Need some of the younger players to really step up.

Very true. We might edge their tight five at lineout time. The AB flyhalfs aren't well known for their tactical kicking games either so we might well look to control territory look to our lineout to apply pressure. Be a big onus on Marcus Smith applying more control, though his 50/22 at the weekend was exactly the type of brilliance we'd need.

DMac has matured nicely at 10. He can control it if the No9 doesn’t fuck around.

[FKAS]

Looks a very strong New Zealand squad to me. No real weaknesses, tons of power & pace. I think if we play really well we can be competitive, but hard to see too many areas that we’ll have an edge. Need some of the younger players to really step up.

Very true. We might edge their tight five at lineout time. The AB flyhalfs aren't well known for their tactical kicking games either so we might well look to control territory look to our lineout to apply pressure. Be a big onus on Marcus Smith applying more control, though his 50/22 at the weekend was exactly the type of brilliance we'd need.

DMac has matured nicely at 10. He can control it if the No9 doesn’t fuck around.

He's looked good in the bits I've seen. I'm hoping we see him face off against Marcus Smith in at least one of the tests. That should be entertaining.

If England had Ford I'd feel more bullish about our ability to control the game but not so sure with Smith who's equally capable of being commanding as he is anonymous (until we're in the opposition's half anyway).

[Puja]

Just looking at the team named this weekend, the following players have gone on tour and held tackle-bags:

Oghre
Heyes
BCurry
Roots
Dombrandt
Dingwall
Northmore
Steward
Carpenter

Plus Isiekwe and Iyogun who joined late.

Can't argue with them really - Steward's unlucky in some ways, but I just don't see how he fits into England right now, and BCurry still suffers from the insane number of quality back row we have. Real shame there was no midweek match available for those guys to get a chance to get onto a pitch though.

Puja

[FKAS]

Just looking at the team named this weekend, the following players have gone on tour and held tackle-bags:

Oghre
Heyes
BCurry
Roots
Dombrandt
Dingwall
Northmore
Steward
Carpenter

Plus Isiekwe and Iyogun who joined late.

Can't argue with them really - Steward's unlucky in some ways, but I just don't see how he fits into England right now, and BCurry still suffers from the insane number of quality back row we have. Real shame there was no midweek match available for those guys to get a chance to get onto a pitch though.

Puja

Steward is unlucky but at the same time I think he can develop his game so that he can play the counter attacking playmaker role that Furbank does. With less acceleration and more power but I think he can get there. Just not a short term thing and in the meantime keeping him in the squad gives a solid option should Furbank get injured.

Heyes I feel sorry for, he could have done with a run out, same with Dingwall though if Steward doesn't fit how England play then he has no chance. Which is harsh.

Could have done with a couple of warm up games really. Japan and then a NZ select. First team run out Vs Japan and then squad rotated for the game Vs NZ select, on to the two AB tests.