AUCKLAND – Selectors have named five fresh faces in the first All Blacks squad of 2015 with Super Rugby form players Nehe Milner-Scudder and Waisake Naholo included in the 41-man announcement.
Both players – who have been tearing through defences on the back of great Super Rugby showings by the Highlanders and the Hurricanes respectively, have been joined by other new names, Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst, Highlanders out-half Lima Sopoaga and Crusaders’ hooker Codie Taylor.
Many of the players named were not particularly surprising to those in rugby circles however the one aspect that will raise some eyebrows is the loyalty shown to players who played next to no Super Rugby in 2015.
Israel Dagg and Tawera Kerr-Barlow can consider themselves extremely lucky having been thrown a lifeline by Hansen and the fellow selectors despite having long term injuries that has seen them miss the majority of the year to date.
There are a few players that could consider themselves very unlucky including the majority of the Highlanders front row as well as Hurricane Ardie Savea who must be wondering what more he has to do to earn a black jersey.
With World Rugby only allowing 31 players in the Rugby World Cup squad, the squad will be reduced to 31 at the conclusion of the Rugby Championship. However Steve Hansen has insisted that each player will get ample game time before the World Cup squad is announced with matches against Samoa followed by the Rugby Championship starting in July.
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
Hookers
Dane Coles – Hurricanes / Wellington (27), Hikawera Elliot – Chiefs / Poverty Bay (3), Keven Mealamu – Blues / Auckland (123), Codie Taylor – Crusaders / Canterbury
Props
Wyatt Crockett – Crusaders / Canterbury (27), Charlie Faumuina – Blues / Auckland (20), Ben Franks – Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay (31), Owen Franks – Crusaders / Canterbury (57), Joe Moody – Crusaders / Canterbury (8), Tony Woodcock – Blues /North Harbour (110)
Locks
James Broadhurst – Hurricanes / Taranaki, Brodie Retallick – Chiefs / Bay of Plenty (36), Luke Romano – Crusaders / Canterbury (17), Jeremy Thrush – Hurricanes / Wellington (11), Sam Whitelock – Crusaders / Canterbury (62)
Loose forwards
Sam Cane – Chiefs / Bay of Plenty (22), Jerome Kaino – Blues /Auckland (56), Richie McCaw (captain) – Crusaders / Canterbury (137), Liam Messam – Chiefs / Waikato (40), Kieran Read – Crusaders / Canterbury (72), Matt Todd – Crusaders / Canterbury (2), Victor Vito – Hurricanes / Wellington (26)
Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow – Chiefs / Waikato (15), TJ Perenara – Hurricanes / Wellington (11), Aaron Smith – Highlanders / Manawatu (38)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett – Hurricanes / Taranaki (28), Dan Carter – Crusaders / Canterbury (102), Colin Slade – Crusaders /Canterbury (17), Lima Sopoaga – Highlanders / Southland
Midfielders
Ryan Crotty – Crusaders / Canterbury (13), Malakai Fekitoa – Highlanders / Auckland (8), Ma’a Nonu – Hurricanes / Wellington (94), Conrad Smith – Hurricanes / Wellington (85), Sonny Bill Williams – Chiefs / Counties Manukau (23)
Outside backs
Israel Dagg – Crusaders /Hawke’s Bay (46), Cory Jane – Hurricanes / Wellington (48), Nehe Milner-Skudder – Hurricanes / Manawatu, Waisake Naholo – Highlanders / Taranaki, Charles Piutau – Blues /Auckland (14), Julian Savea – Hurricanes / Wellington (33), Ben Smith – Highlanders / Otago (38)