All Blacks training camp squad announced

Editor

An All Blacks wider training camp is being held in Christchurch over the next two days ahead of the Rugby Championship, without Crusaders players.

The Crusaders are busy preparing for this weekend’s Super Rugby final against the Lions in Christchurch.

The Hurricanes’ Dane Coles will make his long-awaited return from injury as the most high-profile inclusion in the camp, having ruptured his ACL back in November.

Sonny Bill Williams has been included, but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed that his star centre won’t be available for the first two Bledisloes as he battles back from a shoulder injury – the latest complaint in a rotten run of injuries of late for the 33-year-old.

All Blacks training camp:

Forwards

Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Nathan Harris

Props: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi

Locks: Brodie Retallick and Patrick Tuipulotu

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Jackson Hemopo, Akira Ioane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock

Backs

Scrum-halves: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

Fly-halves: Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie

Centres: Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams

Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith