All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named a 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship.
Foster has stuck with the majority of the squad that contested the three-match Test series with Ireland – a series which Ireland won 2-1.
Highlanders lock and Blues flyhalf Stephen Perofeta are the only uncapped players in the group. Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan Blackadder and Josh Lord all miss out through injury.
“We have taken on board the lessons from the Steinlager series and are excited about looking forward to the next phase of our Test season,” said Foster.
“The Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship plus the Bledisloe Cup remain our top priorities. This is a real chance to show what we are about as a team.”
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson also added: “The past fortnight has been a challenging time for us and of course our fans.
“There have been some thorough conversations this week, as there always are around our performance environments, and these will continue.
“It’s exciting to be heading back to South Africa for the first time in several years – we have two big games ahead of us there and our focus now is to support the team to improve performance and be successful.”
Foster’s men get their championship underway with consecutive Tests against the world champion Springboks in South Africa. They then return home for back-to-back Tests against Argentina before finishing off with two Tests against Australia split between Melbourne and Auckland.
All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship:
Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho
Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Aidan Ross, Nepo Laulala, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu
Scrumhalves: Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith
Flyhalves: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Stephen Perofeta
Centers: Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece
