Three notable names included in the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad, with uncapped Hurricanes back Ruben Love, 95-test loose forward Sam Cane and Josh Lord as injury cover.
Love and Cane join outside back Will Jordan and versatile midfielder David Havili as the four players named for the Rugby Championship, who did not feature during the first three tests of the season.
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Halfback Noah Hotham and lock Sam Darry retain their places in the squad after being called into the squad as replacement players then impressing during their respective test debuts against Fiji in San Diego.
Darry is the fourth lock in the squad alongside captain Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaai’i and Patrick Tuipulotu, who remained in New Zealand for a rest week while the team travelled to San Diego.
Chiefs and Taranaki lock Lord has been named as injury cover for Scott Barrett, who is being monitored after suffering a finger injury against Fiji and having surgery after returning to New Zealand.
Hotham joins Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara as the three halfbacks chosen for the Rugby Championship. Perenara returns from a lower leg injury sustained during the first Test of the season against England in Dunedin.
Cane and Jordan return to the All Blacks after recovering from respective back and shoulder injuries that made them unavailable for the first three tests of 2024. Cane bolsters the loose forward stocks to seven for what will be a testing series, starting with back-to-back home tests against Argentina at Sky Stadium in Wellington and Eden Park in Auckland.
Robertson was keen to keep the squad as settled as possible.
“It was a tough squad to select because everyone has owned their opportunities. Continuity is important, but it’s also important to reward performance.
“Sam Cane, Will and David bring a lot of experience and leadership to the group and Ruben, Noah and Sam Darry have taken their chance in the environment. It will be a special moment for Ruben being selected for the first time. He’s worked hard in the background and will be ready when his opportunity comes.”
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell
Props: Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry
Loose Forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Halfbacks: Noah Hotham, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima. First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie
Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
Injury cover: Josh Lord
ALL BLACKS' RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 10
All Blacks vs Argentina, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday, August 17
All Blacks vs Argentina, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland
Sunday, September 1
All Blacks vs South Africa, 3am, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Sunday, September 8
All Blacks vs South Africa, 3am, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, September 21
All Blacks vs Australia, 5.45pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, September 28
All Blacks vs Australia, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
* All times in NZ Time