First All Blacks squad of the year named

The first All Blacks team of the year has been named.

Four new caps have been named for tests against Argentina and South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

The new members include Luke Jacobson, Braydon Ennor, Josh Ioane and Sevu Reece. In total 39 players were named.

Notable players to miss out were winger Waisake Naholo; loose forward Liam Squire, hooker Nathan Harris and halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.

All Black coach Steve Hansen said there were many positives in being able to name a larger squad for the first two matches in the Rugby Championship.

“First and foremost, it allows us to pick a very strong squad for what will be a challenging first Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires, while at the same time giving most of the Crusaders players in the All Blacks a rest from what has been a very tough Super Rugby Finals campaign.

The full team

Forwards:

Hookers

• Asafo Aumua (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, uncapped)
• Dane Coles (32, Hurricanes / Wellington, 60)
• Liam Coltman (29, Highlanders / Otago, 4)
• Codie Taylor (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)

Props

• Owen Franks (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 106)
• Nepo Laulala (27, Chiefs / Counties Manukau, 17)
• Joe Moody (30, Crusaders /Canterbury, 37)
• Atu Moli (24, Chiefs / Tasman, uncapped)
• Angus Ta’avao (29, Chiefs / Taranaki, 3)
• Karl Tu’inukuafe (26, Blues / North Harbour, 13)
• Ofa Tuungafasi (27, Blues / Auckland, 26)

Locks

• Brodie Retallick (28, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 75)
• Patrick Tuipulotu (26, Blues / Auckland, 21)
• Samuel Whitelock (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 108)

Utility Forward

• Jackson Hemopo (25, Highlanders / Manawatu,3)

Loose Forwards

• Sam Cane (27, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 60)
• Vaea Fifita (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 9)
• Shannon Frizell (25, Highlanders / Tasman, 4)
• Luke Jacobson (22, Chiefs / Waikato, new cap)
• Dalton Papalii (21, Blues / Auckland, 2)
• Kieran Read (33, Crusaders / Counties Manukau, 118) – Captain
• Ardie Savea (25, Hurricanes / Wellington, 35)
• Matt Todd (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 17)

Backs:

Halfbacks

• TJ Perenara (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 55)
• Aaron Smith (30, Highlanders / Manawatu, 82)
• Brad Weber (28, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 1)

First five-eighths

• Beauden Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 73)
• Josh Ioane (23, Highlanders / Otago, new cap)
• Richie Mo’unga (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 9)

Midfielders

• Jack Goodhue (24, Crusaders / Northland, 7)
• Ngani Laumape (26, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 10)
• Anton Lienert-Brown (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
• Sonny Bill Williams (33, Blues / Counties Manukau, 51)

Utility Backs

• Braydon Ennor (21, Crusaders / Canterbury, new cap)
• Jordie Barrett (22, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 9)

Outside backs

• George Bridge (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)
• Rieko Ioane (22, Blues / Auckland, 24)
• Sevu Reece (22, Crusaders / Waikato, new cap)
• Ben Smith (33, Highlanders /Otago, 76)