Regular captain Scott Barrett is back but Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephan Perofeta will not be part of the All Black squad that is heading to South Africa for the two Castle Lager Rugby Championship tests that will determine the outcome of this year’s edition of the competition.
The good news for New Zealand is that prop Ethan de Groot, who announced himself on the international stage with a feisty performance against the Springboks in the 2022 Johannesburg game, has overcome his injury problems and been included in the tour group.
A squad of 36 was named on Wednesday for the two game tour that will start with the game at Emirates Airlines Park Johannesburg on 31 August and conclude at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town a week later.
The New Zealand selectors have included 20 forwards in the group and 16 backs, with most of the players who have featured for them so far this season - the two games against England, one against Fiji and another two against Argentina - in the touring party.
The 31-year-old Tuipulotu, who locked the scrum against England, will however not be part of the group as he has not recovered from the calf injury that he sustained in the last game of that series. Ditto Perofeta, who is a creative flyhalf/inside centre who starred for the Blues in the most recent Super Rugby season.
Josh Lord, eight years Tuipulotu’s junior, and Harry Plummer remain with the squad after being part of the group that was on duty for the home games against Argentina in Wellington and Auckland respectively. Plummer is one of only two uncapped players in the squad, the other being the Hurricanes fullback Ruben Love.
The absence of Tuipulotu is partly made up for by the return from injury of Barrett, who will reassume the captaincy. Barrett was sent off in the World Cup warmup game between the All Blacks and the Boks at Twickenham last year, where the South Africans recorded the biggest ever win against the Kiwis, but he was one of the central features of the shock All Black win in Johannesburg in 2022.
Barrett returns after recovering from the finger injury sustained in the match against Fiji in San Diego.
Sam Darry, Tuipoluto’s Blues lock partner, has since done well alongside Tupou Vaa’i in the games against Argentina, but with RG Snyman back in the mix for the Boks after recovering from his injury, the hosts will have the edge when it comes to experience regardless of the makeup of the visiting second row. And even though both Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are still out injured.
The loss of the influence of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock was noticeable when the All Blacks played England in July and with Eben Etzebeth lining up alongside Snyman, the second row is one of the areas the Boks whill be looking to establish an advantage.
It is noticeable that Beauden Barrett is listed as a flyhalf in the press release put out by New Zealand. He has played much of his recent rugby at fullback. Plummer, a standout at flyhalf when the Blues won Super Rugby this year, is listed as an outside back.
After the big bounce back win scored by the All Blacks at their impregnable fortress of Eden Park last week it would be a surprise if there were any major changes to the side that finished the first home leg of the Championship for them, with Barrett’s return as the team leader the only certain change.
All Blacks squad for Castle Lager Rugby Championship trip to South Africa
SQUAD:
FORWARDS - Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Josh Lord, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
BACKS - Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko loane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a, Harry Plummer