The 33-man squad representing the All Blacks for the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has been officially announced. Consisting of a diverse range of positions, the squad includes three hookers, four locks, six props, five loose forwards, three halfbacks, four midfielders, three fly-halves, and five outside backs. The team was led out by the esteemed former captain and All Blacks legend, Richie McCaw, in Napier.
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Unfortunately, some noteworthy players such as Samipeni Finau, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Joe Moody, and Ethan Blackadder did not make the cut due to injuries. However, the Super Rugby Pacific outfits, Blues, Crusaders, and Hurricanes, were well-represented with eight players each, while the Hurricanes had five and the Highlanders had three.
One particular concern for the All Blacks was the knee injury suffered by Brodie Retallick in their recent narrow victory over the Wallabies. Retallick himself expressed uncertainty about his availability for the first match against France and potentially even the subsequent games against Namibia and Italy. Coach Ian Foster provided more insight into Retallick’s prognosis in an interview with Sky Sports The Breakdown.
In regards to the omissions of Moody and Blackadder, Foster explained that both players had suffered re-injuries in recent weeks, which set them back in the selection process. Despite their setbacks, Foster expressed confidence in their abilities and hoped there would be future opportunities for them.
Additionally, Foster revealed that three extra players would be included in the squad as injury cover: Brad Weber, George Bell, and Samipeni Finau. However, they would only be able to join the team for training purposes before the squad heads to Lyon. Weber was added as a fourth halfback, Finau could potentially be involved in the South African game as a replacement for Retallick, and Bell would join as a fourth hooker due to Asafo Aumua’s calf injury.
The All Blacks’ first game in the Rugby World Cup will take place against France on September 9th at 5:15 am (AEST). They will then face Namibia, Italy, and Uruguay in their remaining Pool A matches.
Below is the alphabetical list of the All Blacks squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup:
Hookers: Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor
Props: Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (captain), Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith
First-fives: Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown
Outside backs: Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Emoni Narawa, Mark Telea
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
