WELLINGTON: Four new faces were included yesterday in a 36-man All Blacks squad for the end-of-season northern hemisphere tour, with coach Steve Hansen demanding even higher performance levels from the all-conquering world champions.
Despite ending the four-nation Rugby Championship with six wins out of six, including a 38-27 triumph over arch-rivals the Springboks at their Ellis Park fortress in Johannesburg, Hansen sees room for improvement.
The All Blacks will use the opening Test of the tour against Japan as match experience for younger members of the squad before reverting to their top combinations to play France, England and Ireland.
“The aim of the tour is to further develop our game structures, our skills sets and our individual players,” Hansen said.
“We will be looking to use the tour to take ourselves beyond where we are at the moment.”
All Blacks squad:
Forwards: Dane Coles (Wellington Hurricanes), Andrew Hore (Otago Highlanders), Keven Mealamu (Auckland Blues), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury Crusaders), Charlie Faumuina (Blues), Ben Franks (Hurricanes), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Joe Moody (Crusaders), Tony Woodcock (Highlanders), Dominic Bird (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Luke Romano (Crusaders), Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Steven Luatua (Blues), Richie McCaw (captain, Crusaders), Liam Messam (Chiefs), Kieran Read (Crusaders), Luke Whitelock (Crusaders).
Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Aaron Smith (Highlanders), Dan Carter (Crusaders) Aaron Cruden (Chiefs) Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Tom Taylor (Crusaders), Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), Ma’a Nonu (Highlanders), Francis Saili (Blues), Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Frank Halai (Blues), Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Charles Piutau (Blues), Julian Savea (Hurricanes), Ben Smith (Highlanders).AFP
