All Blacks squad v Springboks: Scott Barrett returns as Robertson names two rookies in 36-man travelling team
Scott Robertson has named his 36-man squad for the two Test matches in South Africa against the Springboks.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has named his 36-man squad for the upcoming Test matches against the Springboks in South Africa.
New Zealand head to South Africa off the back of an emphatic victory over Argentina at Eden Park after falling to Los Pumas in Wellington the week before.
Robertson has stuck with largely the same All Blacks squad used over those two Test matches with only a pair of players ruled out through injury in lock Patrick Tuipulotu and outside back Stephen Perofeta.
All Blacks travelling squad to South Africa
Both players featured in the series against England but missed the opening Rugby Championship matches with the same calf injuries that see them omitted from the travelling squad.
Josh Lord and Harry Plummer replaced the pair in the squad and will both now travel to South Africa.
Meanwhile, Scott Barrett is fit again and will resume the captaincy duties on tour having missed both Tests against Argentina. Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot has also been cleared and will also fly out with the squad, as has Luke Jacobson, who was in doubt for the two Tests in the Republic.
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Robertson has named 20 forwards in his travelling squad to South Africa with 16 backline players. Backs Ruben Love and Plummer are the only two uncapped players in Robertson’s group.
The All Blacks boss has. however, included newly capped stars Sam Darry, George Bell, Wallace Sititi, Noah Hotham, Cortez Ratima and Billy Proctor.
Number eight Ardie Savea and utility back Jordie Barrett have been named as the vice captains for the Tests against the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
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All Blacks 36-man squad
Forwards (20): Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Backs (16): Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Harry Plummer, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
Unavailable due to injury: Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), Stephen Perofeta (calf)
Springboks v All Blacks fixtures
South Africa v New Zealand – Test I
Date: Saturday, 31 August
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Local kick-off: 17:00
GMT kick-off: 15:00
NZL kick-off: 3:00 (Sunday, 1 September)
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 1:00 (Sunday, 1 September)
RSA kick-off: 17:00
ARG kick-off: 12:00
South Africa v New Zealand – Test 2
Date: Saturday, 7 September
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Local kick-off: 17:00
GMT kick-off: 15:00
NZL kick-off: 3:00 (Sunday, 8 September)
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 1:00 (Sunday, 8 September)
RSA kick-off: 17:00
ARG kick-off: 12:00
