Jordie Barrett and Richie Mo’unga headline eight injury returns as Dave Rennie named a 36-man All Blacks squad for the Nations Championship Northern Series, with Codie Taylor to captain the side.
The squad was announced on Tuesday (NZ time) by Rennie and fellow selectors Sir Graham Henry and senior assistant coach Neil Barnes, according to the official squad release.
The All Blacks will play Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends before heading into the Nations Championship Finals in London.
Who returns from injury
Barrett and Mo’unga are joined by Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Ethan Blackadder, Anton Segner, Asafo Aumua and Fehi Fineanganofo in returning from injury.
Hooker George Bell, prop Saula Ma’u and loose forwards Leicester Fainga’anuku and Christian Lio-Willie also come into the squad. Chay Fihaki, Jamie Hannah and Ma’u are named in an All Blacks squad for the first time after previously serving as injury cover, while Ma’u and first five-eighth Josh Jacomb are the only uncapped players in the group.
Read more: All Blacks Beat Wallabies 43-21 to Complete Bledisloe Cup Sweep
Big names missing
Ardie Savea (shoulder) is among nine players unavailable through injury, along with Samisoni Taukei’aho (calf), Shannon Frizell (knee), Tyrel Lomax (neck), Leroy Carter (ankle), Ruben Love (ankle), Luke Jacobson (elbow), Caleb Clarke (shoulder) and Ollie Norris (knee). Simon Parker is unavailable for personal reasons.
Beauden Barrett, the most-capped player in the squad with 147 Tests, is named in the outside backs alongside Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane.
What Rennie said
“This is a really strong squad we have selected. It’s great to officially welcome George, Saula, Leicester, Christian, Jamie and Chay back into the squad. They have all shown fantastic form during the NPC. We’re also rapt to have eight players who have played a lot of footy for us this year return from injury. They bring a lot of quality and experience to the group,” Rennie said.
“Playing Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends is a tough assignment. These are all proud rugby nations with passionate home crowds. We will embrace the challenge and the opportunity to build on our Bledisloe Cup performances,” he said.
Read more: All Blacks Beat Wallabies 50-19, Retain Bledisloe Cup
Northern Series fixtures
All Blacks v Scotland, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh: 8 November (NZ time)
All Blacks v Wales, Principality Stadium, Cardiff: 15 November (NZ time)
All Blacks v England, Allianz Stadium, London: 22 November (NZ time)
Results from the Northern Series count towards the Nations Championship standings ahead of Finals Weekend in London from 27 to 29 November (UK time), when Southern Hemisphere sides meet their corresponding Northern Hemisphere finishers. The squad assembles in Auckland before leaving for the United Kingdom on 29 October.
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