All Blacks opt for experience over form

WELLINGTON: There were no surprises in the All Blacks squad named yesterday for the Rugby Championship with the selectors going for experience over form with an eye on next year’s World Cup.

Captain Kieran Read and lock Brodie Retallick return from injury, while the injured Dane Coles and Sonny Bill Williams were also included.

With head coach Steve Hansen fine tuning towards the World Cup in Japan, he named only two uncapped players — prop Tim Perry who played two non-Tests last year and scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi who was in the squad to face France this year but did not take the field.

However, there was no room in the 33-man squad for form wing George Bridge and scrum-half Bryn Hall from Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders, while Wellington Hurricanes prop Jeffrey ToomagaAllen and flanker Vaea Fifita also missed out.

“It has to be noted that there are some very good players who have not made the squad. However, as we’ve seen in previous campaigns, a number of these players will get an opportunity through injury,” Hansen said.

“Whilst last year was about growing depth, and we’ll need to continue to do that in some positions, this year is more about growing our game and our player combinations within that.

“By the end of the year, we should have a clearer picture of who and what will be needed for next year’s Rugby World Cup campaign.”

The Rugby Championship starts in Sydney on Aug 18 when the All Blacks play Australia while South Africa host Argentina in Durban.

Hansen listed New Zealand’s most immediate target as winning the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy contested annually with Australia and which has been held by the All Blacks for the past 15 years.

“After the Rugby World Cup, this is the most important trophy we play for. We lost to Australia the last time we played them, so no doubt they’ll have a lot of selfconfidence and are worthy of starting as favourites.”