Early mark for few star players
ABs set to send players home so they get a longer break before Super Rugby
This week’s training camp could be the last of the year for some members of the All Blacks squad, with coach Ian Foster indicating a plan to send players home.
There are two tests left on the All Blacks calendar for the 2020 season, closing out the Tri Nations with matches against Argentina this weekend and in a fortnight, with a bye separating them.
The All Blacks took a squad of 36 across the Tasman for the four-test tour, so there is room to send players home early should they choose to.
“We’re looking at the potential choice of maybe sending a few players home earlier, maybe early next week,” Foster confirmed.
“Once we get through this game and give people the chance to have a bigger break before Super Rugby with the size of the squad we have.
“It has always been our plan with the squad that we’ve got, if we had an opportunity to do so without injuries. If we didn’t have a lot of injuries then there was a chance that we could send a small number back a week or 10 days earlier so they could commence their quarantining and have a bigger break. We’ve got Super Rugby starting at the end of February and we’re cognisant of that.”
Foster didn’t indicate who the team might look to send home outside prop Ofa Tuungafasi, who is suspended for three games after being shown a red card in last weekend’s loss to the Wallabies.
We’re looking at sending a few home earlier.
However, the decision to send players home, or which players will be offered the chance to go home early, could be dependent on how the side performs against the Pumas tomorrow night.
Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Joe Moody, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jack Goodhue all return to the starting side after missing last week’s outing. Scott Barrett, TJ Perenara and Karl Tu’inukuafe were the key exclusions, while test rookies Will Jordan, Cullen Grace, Asafo Aumua and Akira Ioane all missed out as well.
Smith, who had to watch one of the more chaotic tests in recent memory unfold from the sidelines, said those selected were focused on turning around that defeat to the Wallabies.
Asked if any players had put their hand up to volunteer to come home early, Smith said it wasn’t something the playing group had focused on.
“We’re pretty focused on what we’ve got to do,” he said. “We’re all here preparing to play and if you get that conversation mentioned to you, I guess you go down that road — but that’s next week. Especially after the game we had in the weekend, all our focus is on Argentina on Saturday, trying to play a brand of rugby we’re proud of, and put it right.
“You can get lost in the energy around what ifs and could bes ... you’re not doing your job and adding to the environment and adding to our training.
“It would be a disservice to the jersey,” Smith added.
ABs coach Ian Foster