RugbyRebels

The All Blacks squad to play Ireland has been named. There are six new caps, most of which were entirely expected - Aidan Ross, Pita Gus Sowakula, Folau Fakatava, Stephen Perofeta, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku.

Some surprising omissions as well, such as TJ Perenara, Ethan de Groot, Alex Hodgman, Tyrel Lomax, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, along with potential debutants Kurt Eklund, Jermaine Ainsley, Josh Dickson, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, and Oli Jager.

Hookers
Dane Coles (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders, Canterbury)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs, Waikato)

Props
Aidan Ross (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
George Bower (Crusaders, Otago)
Nepo Laulala (Blues, Counties Manukau)
Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues, Northland)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues, North Harbour)
Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs, Auckland)

Locks
Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders, Canterbury)
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs, Hawkes Bay)
Scott Barrett (Crusaders, Taranaki)
Josh Lord (Chiefs, Taranaki)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs, Taranaki)

Loose Forwards
Pita Gus Sowakula (Chiefs, Taranaki)
Sam Cane (Captain, Chiefs, Bay of Plenty)
Dalton Papalii (Blues, Counties Manukau)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, Wellington)
Akira Ioane (Blues, Auckland)
Hoskins Sotutu (Blues, Counties Manukau)

Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava (Highlanders, Hawkes Bay)
Aaron Smith (Highlanders, Manawatu)
Finlay Christie (Blues, Tasman)

First five-eighths
Stephen Perofeta (Blues, Taranaki)
Beauden Barrett (Blues, Taranaki)
Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders, Canterbury)

Midfielders
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues, Auckland)
Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs, Waikato)
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders, Northland)
Rieko Ioane (Blues, Auckland)
David Havili (Crusaders, Tasman)

Outside backs
Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders, Tasman)
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes, Taranaki)
Will Jordan (Crusaders, Tasman)
Caleb Clarke (Blues, Auckland)
Sevu Reece (Crusaders, Tasman)

Fainga'anuku's name is amazing. Something tells me his parents are rugby fans.

Re: the omissions, a lot of it is just a matter of form and casualties of depth in particular positions. For example, the Chiefs front row absolutely all deserve to be there, and as long as they're fit in time for the test series, there's no way Coles and Taylor were going to miss out.

Mr Mwenda wrote:Fainga'anuku's name is amazing. Something tells me his parents are rugby fans.

Nearly signed for Leicester a couple of seasons ago, which would have been just perfect.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Mr Mwenda wrote:Fainga'anuku's name is amazing. Something tells me his parents are rugby fans.

Nearly signed for Leicester a couple of seasons ago, which would have been just perfect.

Puja

Perfect would have been signing for Northampton!

cashead wrote:Re: the omissions, a lot of it is just a matter of form and casualties of depth in particular positions. For example, the Chiefs front row absolutely all deserve to be there, and as long as they're fit in time for the test series, there's no way Coles and Taylor were going to miss out.

Coles is the one that I think they should move on from. Samisoni Taukei’aho getting a start is the main thing though, he has been great.

Is Lienert-Brown injured?

Banquo wrote:Is Lienert-Brown injured?

Busted shoulder that puts him out until the end of year tour.

cashead wrote:

Banquo wrote:Is Lienert-Brown injured?

Busted shoulder that puts him out until the end of year tour.

Shame for him, thanks.