Twelve members of the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad will represent their provincial sides this weekend during Round 6 of the National Provincial Championship (NPC).
George Bell and Ethan de Groot will bolster the Canterbury and Southland front rows, respectively, when the sides meet in Invercargill on Friday evening.
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Saturday will see loose forwards Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson join Waikato when they take on Hawkes Bay in Hamilton,.
In Tauranga prop Pasilio Tosi will line up for Bay of Plenty and lock Josh Lord for Taranaki in their cross north island clash.
A further six players will feature in Sunday’s provincial clashes, including George Bower for Otago against Counties Manakau at Pukekohe in the early afternoon match.
Harry Plummer and Patrick Tuipulotu will be welcome for Auckland against Northland. The big city side scored its first win of the season last week and will feel a bit more confident on this occasion.
David Havili will help Tasman in its Ranfurly Shield defence at Lansdowne Park, while Billy Proctor and Ruben Love join Wellington in what is potentially the game of the round.
Due to long-haul travel and recovery protocols, the first attendance with their respective teams for players involved in Friday or Saturday games will be Captain's Run, while those playing on Sunday will join their teams for training from Friday.
ALL BLACKS IN NPC
ROUND 6
Friday, September 13
Southland vs Canterbury, Rugby Park, Invercargill, 7.05pm
Southland: Ethan de Groot
Canterbury: George Bell
Saturday, September 14
Bay of Plenty vs Taranaki, Tauranga Domain, 2.05pm
Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi
Taranaki: Josh Lord
Waikato vs Hawkes Bay, FMG Stadium, Hamilton, 7.05pm
Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson
Sunday, September 15
Counties Manakau vs Otago, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 2.05pm
Otago: George Bower
Tasman vs Wellington, Lansdowne Park, Blenheim, 2.05pm
Tasman: David Havili
Wellington: Billy Proctor, Ruben Love
Northland vs Auckland, Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei, 4.35pm
Auckland: Harry Plummer, Patrick Tuipulotu
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