Henry adds some new faces
There are seven new caps in the All Blacks squad to tour Hong Kong, UK and Ireland named by Graham Henry on Sunday.
There are seven new caps in the All Blacks squad to tour Hong Kong, UK and Ireland named by Graham Henry on Sunday.
The 35-strong squad includes Tasman loosehead prop Ben Franks and Southland prop and captain Jamie Mackintosh in the front row, loose forwards Scott Waldrom from Taranaki, Canterbury Air New Zealand Cup captain Kieran Read and Waikato captain Liam Messam and Wellington team-mates, winger Hosea Gear and full-back Cory Jane.
Players returning to the All Blacks after injury include Taranaki lock Jason Eaton and Auckland winger Joe Rokocoko, while other notable recalls include Canterbury's Corey Flynn, an All Black in 2003 – 2004, and Wellington lock Ross Filipo, who last played for the All Blacks in June 2007.
Canterbury's Leon MacDonald and Waikato's Brendon Leonard were not considered for selection due to injury.
“We believe it's a very talented team that we have got for this tour,” Henry said.
“We feel we have got the right balance with a nucleus of experienced All Blacks as well as seven new caps, who have shown their class in the Super 14 and the Air New Zealand Cup, for what will be the most demanding Test match tour schedule faced by an All Blacks team in the professional era.”
The All Blacks will play five Tests in five weeks as well as a midweek match against the European champions Munster.
The tour kicks off on Saturday 1 November when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in an historic first-ever off-shore Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong.
The team then heads to the United Kingdom and Ireland for matches against Scotland (8 November), Ireland (15 November), Munster (18 November), Wales (22 November) and England (29 November), a Grand Slam tour.
New Zealand squad:
Backs: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Piri Weepu (Wellington).
Forwards: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Jamie Mackintosh (Southland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki), Ali Williams (Tasman), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).