All Blacks name 51-man touring squad for Autumn Internationals - Ruck

All Blacks name 51-man touring squad for Autumn Internationals

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has announced a strong 51-player squad for the team’s upcoming end-of-year tour to Japan and Australia.

Hansen has named a 32-man squad of players who will go to Yokohama where they will face the Wallabies in their third and final Bledisloe Cup Test on October 27.

After that match, 22 of the squad will go to London to prepare for their Test against England at Twickenham on November 11. Ten players from the 32-man squad will remain in Japan where they will be joined by a secondary squad of 19 players – who will travel after the Mitre 10 Premiership and Championship finals – for a Test against the Brave Blossoms.

All Blacks 32-man squad:

Forwards: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Vaea Fifita, Dalton Papalii, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Matt Todd

Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith

19 additional players:

Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Liam Coltman, Tyrel Lomax, Reuben O’Neill, Tim Perry, Angus Ta’avao, Luke Romano, Jackson Hemopo, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Luke Whitelock

Backs: Mitchell Drummond, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, George Bridge, David Havili, Nehe Milner-Skudder

All Blacks 2018 end-of-year tour schedule:

Saturday, October 27: v Australia – Yokohama
Saturday, November 3: v Japan – Tokyo
Saturday, November 11: v England – London
Saturday, November 18: v Ireland – Dublin
Saturday, November 25: v Italy – Rome