Scrum-half Cam Roigard has been named in a relatively unchanged All Blacks squad for their Northern Tour which begins with a Test against Japan in late October.
Roigard only returned from injury recently having been sidelined with a severe knee injury for half a year meaning his last appearance for the All Blacks was in the World Cup where his stock dramatically rose thanks to some electric performances in France.
Half-back changes
Noah Hotham is left out as a result while veteran TJ Perenara and impressive rookie Cortez Ratima keep their spots in Scott Robertson’s squad. The coach confirmed the young Crusader, Hotham, will be in the All Blacks XV who play games against Munster and Georgia.
“It was fantastic to see Cam in great form for Counties in the weekend and we are excited to have him back in the mix. Fellow halfbacks Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara showed during the Rugby Championship that they deserve their spots in the squad, and this means Noah Hotham will be included in the All Blacks XV squad to be announced tomorrow, where he will be able to gain some valuable playing time,” Robertson said.
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Legends bow out
Veteran Sam Cane is also named in the squad despite his Test career coming to an end in 2024 much like Perenara who will both be playing in Japan from next year. However, Robertson feels he has the right balance between experience and youth.
“This Northern Tour is an exciting challenge, which will allow us to continue evolving our game and building a style of rugby that creates opportunities against some fierce competition. We have selected a squad that will bring consistency and continuity, while also achieving the right balance of giving newer talent the chance to develop within a team that has valuable experience against these northern hemisphere sides.”
Elsewhere the squad remains consistent to those players who featured in the Rugby Championships as the All Blacks are set to take on Japan, England, Ireland, France and Italy in the remainder of the Test season.
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New Zealand squad
Backs: Stephen Perofeta, Ruben Love, Will Jordan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Cam Roigard.
Forwards: Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Dalton Papali’i, Sam Cane, Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Scott Barrett (c), Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Tamaiti Williams, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Fletcher Newell, Tyrel Lomax, Ethan De Groot, Codie Taylor, Asafo Aumua, George Bell.
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Fixtures
Japan v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 26 October
Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
Local kick-off: 14:40
BST kick-off: 06:50
GMT kick-off: 05:50
England v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 2 November
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Local kick-off: 15:10
Ireland v New Zealand
Date: Friday, 8 November
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Local kick-off: 20:10
France v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 16 November
Venue: Stade de France
Local kick-off: 21:10
GMT kick-off: 20:10
Italy v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, 23 November
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Local kick-off: 20:10
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