“This was a very tough squad to pick, but we’ve selected the best 23 players to beat England on Saturday,” (Scott Robertson All Blacks coach)
All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson and his co-selectors, Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Leon MacDonald and Jason Ryan have named their team to face England in the opening match of the 2024 Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Scott Barrett will captained the side and features a couple of returning players to the test arena including halfback Tj Perenar, Sevu Reece, Stephen Perofeta and Samipeni Finau.
“This was a very tough squad to pick, but we’ve selected the best 23 players to beat England on Saturday,” Robertson said.
“There is a lot of excitement in the group for our first Test and we’re walking together toward this opportunity to represent New Zealand and our families in Dunedin in front of a sold out stadium. We’ve prepared well and we’re ready.”
It’s a remarkable return for winger Sevu Reece who missed most of the 2023 season due to an ACL injury. Perofeta is in line to add onto his three test caps since 2022 when he came off the bench against Scotland.
Finau has been named to wear the No.6 jersey for what would only be his second test after making a brief appearance last year in the Bledisloe Cup win over Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
The opening match of the All Blacks 2024 test season will mark the eleventh time the All Blacks and England have contested the Hillary Shield, which was introduced in 2008 to honour the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary, and to recognise the links between the two countries.
The All Blacks have not played England in New Zealand since 2014 when the home side won a hard fought series 3-0, including a 28-27 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (22)
2. Codie Taylor (85)
3. Tyrel Lomax (32)
4. Scott Barrett (69) (Captain)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu (43)
6. Samipeni Finau (1)
7. Dalton Papali’i (32)
8. Ardie Savea (81) (Vice Captain)
9. TJ Perenara (80)
10. Damian McKenzie (47)
11. Mark Tele’a (9)
12. Jordie Barrett (57) (Vice Captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (67)
14. Sevu Reece (23)
15. Stephen Perofeta (3)
16. Asafo Aumua (6)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (57)
18. Fletcher Newell (13)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (25)
20. Luke Jacobson (18)
21. Finlay Christie (21)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (70)
23. Beauden Barrett (123)
