ALL BLACKS TEAM NAMED
AUCKLAND: ALL Black coach Ian Foster has unveiled his first squad, naming seven uncapped players in his 35strong team.
The new caps are Blues trio Alex Hodgman, Hoskins Sotutu and Caleb Clarke, Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i and Crusaders trio Quinten Strange, Cullen Grace and Will Jordan.
‘‘We're hugely excited at the calibre of the players selected for this All Blacks squad of 2020,’’ Foster said
‘‘It's been a great process working through the selections and I've really enjoyed working with ‘Plums’ [John Plumtree] as part of the new selectors group.
‘‘Plums, Foxy [Grant Fox] and I have been as excited as everyone at the rugby we have seen in what has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone.
‘‘The result is that we can now announce a team that is rich in experience and a little battlehardened after the Rugby World Cup, but forwardlooking with the inclusion of a number of new players. We're delighted with the balance of the group and we look forward to whatever the challenges of 2020 throw at us.’’
As well as the new caps, the squad also features the return of a several players who have worked their way back into the All Black side, including 2017 All Blacks Asafo Aumua and Akira Ioane and 2018 breakout prop Karl Tu'inukuafe.
‘‘We're really happy for this group of players as well. They all got an opportunity several years ago and have worked incredibly hard to get back into the team, so we congratulate them,’’ Foster said.
‘‘As always, there are players who will be really disappointed at missing out, and that is just a reflection of the incredible depth we have in New Zealand.’’
Three players were not considered due to injury — prop Atu Moli, lock Scott Barrett and midfielder Ngani Laumape.
Foster said, like all rugby fans, the team was waiting for the All Blacks schedule to be finalised. Sanzaar will confirm the test programme in due course.
‘‘Like everyone else, we're impatient to know what is happening, but we fully understand all the variables at play and we remain confident that there'll be something for fans to look forward to in the nottoodistant future.’’
Foster said, in the meantime, the All Blacks would return to their Mitre 10 Cup provincial sides for the opening weekend of New Zealand's premier domestic competition.
‘‘Our players are really excited to be playing for their provinces and this will be a great competition for fans to enjoy over the next few months.’’
Squad breakdown
The squad is made up of 20 forwards (three hookers, six props, four locks and seven loose forwards) and 15 backs (three halfbacks, two first five– eighths, four midfielders, and six outside backs).
It features 10 Blues players, six Chiefs, five Hurricanes, 11 Crusaders and three Highlanders, while 11 of New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup provinces are represented — eight players from Auckland, seven players from Canterbury, five from Tasman, four from Wellington, three from Taranaki, two from Waikato, and one each from Northland, North Harbour, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay and Manawatu.