All Blacks look to depth for Spring Tour

Mon, Oct 23, 2017, 12:00 AM
AAP
by AAP
The drought has been broken in Brisbane with the Wallabies nabbing a thrilling 23-18 victory win over the All Blacks.

Coach Steve Hansen has maintained a focus on building depth by naming four uncapped players in his All Blacks squad to tour United Kingdom and France in November.

Winger Matt Duffie, centre Jack Goodhue, prop Tim Perry and hooker Asafo Aumua are included in the 37-man squad who will play five matches.

Two players recalled after their non-involvement in New Zealand's clean sweep of the Rugby Championship are outside back Seta Tamanivalu and prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.

World class lock Brodie Retallick hasn't been included for compassionate reasons following a recent family tragedy.Rieko Ioane will be unavailable due to a finger injury. Photo: Getty ImagesThe only player confirmed as unavailable for the first match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on November 4 is injured winger Rieko Ioane (finger).

The remaining matches are against France (Paris, Nov 11), a French selection (Lyon, Nov 14), Scotland (Edinburgh, Nov 18) and Wales (Cardiff, Nov 25).

SQUAD

All Blacks squad for Spring Tour

Backs: Damian McKenzie, David Havili, Matt Duffie, Waisake Naholo, Rieko Ioane, Seta Tamanivalu, Ryan Crotty, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Forwards: Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd, Liam Squire, Jerome Kaino, Vaea Fifita, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Kane Hames, Wyatt Crockett, Tim Perry, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Asafo Aumua.

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