Midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown has been recalled to the All Blacks for their four-game northern tour over October/November.
Coach Ian Foster had largely kept faith with the players that began the national team's home-based campaign in historically indifferent form, but eventually pulled out of their downward spiral to secure the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship trophies.
Lienert-Brown missed the home-series loss to Ireland and first home loss to Argentina, after suffering a shoulder injury during Super Rugby Pacific for the Chiefs, but proved his fitness for Waikato in their National Provincial Championship quarter-final against Bay of Plenty on Sunday.
"He's a very experienced, seasoned player for us, played a lot of test matches and we have a lot of faith in him." said Foster. "We're excited about his inclusion in the group."
His inclusion further muddies the selection dilemma facing Foster and his fellow selectors, after injuries to David Havili and Quinn Tupaea resulted in regular fullback Jordie Barrett successfully switching positions in the second Bledisloe test against Australia.
Tupaea will miss the tour - and next Super Rugby season - with ruptured knee ligaments, while Rieko Ioane, league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Braydon Ennor complete the midfield stocks.
Blues first-five/fullback Stephen Perofeta has made only a fleeting appearance in the black jersey so far, but Foster hopes to see more of him on this tour.
"We've largely gone with a group that's been playing through the Rugby Championship," said Foster. "We really felt that group has taken some lessons and grown and finished really strong in that Rugby Championship.
"We believe they deserve an opportunity to keep developing those combinations, as we go up north."
Notable exclusions include utility back Damian McKenzie and veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who both took Japanese sabbaticals during Super Rugby, and loose forward Luke Jacobson, called in to cover injury to Shannon Frizell and childbirth absence of Ardie Savea against the Wallabies.
Several fringe candidates can expect inclusion in an All Blacks XV squad, also heading north, under the guidance of Blues coach Leon MacDonald. That roster will be named on Monday.
"The northern tour is always a highlight in the All Black calendar and this year is no exception," said Foster. "With less than a year until the start of the Rugby World Cup, this tour gives us another great opportunity to grow from where we finished the Rugby Championship.
"Experiencing big test matches in the north is great preparation for what is to come in France next year. The addition of our All Blacks XV team will also help grow this experience across a wider group of players."
The All Blacks squad to face Japan, Wales, Scotland and England...
Hookers - Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor
Props - George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Locks - Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Samuel Whitelock
Loose Forwards - Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu
Halfbacks - Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith
First five-eighths - Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Stephen Perofeta
Midfielders - Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Outside backs - Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece
Join us for live updates of the All Blacks' northern hemisphere tour, starting October 29 against Japan
