Coles, Mo’unga, Naholo and Goodhue named in All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship

Dane Coles, Richie Mo’unga, Waisake Naholo and Jack Goodhue have been named in the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad released in the last hour.

The Hurricanes pair of loose forward Vaea Fifita and centre Ngani Laumape have been left out of the All Blacks squad for the rugby championship.

However Laumape is an extra to the 33‑man squad named by Steve Hansen as injury cover for Sonny Bill Williams.

The squad also features two uncapped players.

Crusaders and Tasman prop Tim Perry, who played two non‑Tests on last year's Northern Tour, was named in this year's June Series squad but missed the series with injury, while young Chiefs and Taranaki halfback Te Toi-roa Tahuri-orangi has also been selected.

Another feature of the squad is the return of number eight and Captain Kieran Read, who missed the France Series through injury, while lock Brodie Retallick also returns to the side after 11 months away from Test rugby.

Players Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli and Jordan Taufua were not considered for selection due to injury.

The All Blacks will meet the Wallabies at 10.05pm on the 18th of this month.

The 33‑strong squad is as follows (with age, Super Rugby club, province and Test caps):

Forwards:

Hookers

Dane Coles (31, Hurricanes / Wellington, 56)

Nathan Harris (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 13)

Codie Taylor (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 32)

Props

Owen Franks (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98)

Joe Moody (29, Crusaders /Canterbury, 34)

Tim Perry (30, Crusaders / Tasman, uncapped)

Karl Tu'inukuafe (25, Chiefs / North Harbour, 3)

Ofa Tuungafasi (26, Blues / Auckland, 17)

Locks

Scott Barrett (24, Crusaders / Taranaki, 19)

Brodie Retallick (27, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay, 68)

Samuel Whitelock (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 99)

Loose Forwards

Sam Cane (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 55)

Shannon Frizell (24, Highlanders / Tasman, 1)

Jackson Hemopo (24, Highlanders / Manawatu, 1)

Kieran Read (32, Crusaders / Counties Manukau, 109) ‑ Captain

Ardie Savea (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 25)

Liam Squire (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 17)

Luke Whitelock (27, Highlanders / Canterbury, 5)

Backs:

Halfbacks

TJ Perenara (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 45)

Aaron Smith (29, Highlanders / Manawatu, 74)

Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, uncapped)

First five‑eighths

Beauden Barrett (27, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 65)

Damian McKenzie (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 15)

Richie Mo'unga (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)

Midfielders

Ryan Crotty (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 37)

Jack Goodhue (23, Crusaders / Northland, 1)

Anton Lienert‑Brown (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)

Sonny Bill Williams (33, Blues / Counties Manukau, 46)

Outside backs

Jordie Barrett (21, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 5)

Rieko Ioane (21, Blues / Auckland, 16)

Nehe Milner‑Skudder (27, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 11)

Waisake Naholo (27, Highlanders /Taranaki, 19)

Ben Smith (32, Highlanders /Otago, 67)

[Source:Radio NZ]

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