OPINION: Thirty-seven will be cut down to 33 at Napier on Monday evening, when coach Ian Foster names his Rugby World Cup squad to head to France.
That's two more than made the trip to Japan in 2019, due to an increased emphasis on player welfare.
Foster’s had a decent look at this group over the past four weeks in the Rugby Championship and while it’s a mostly settled group from that tournament, World Cups always throw up room for a few bolters.
Props
Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
A largely unchanged propping group from the one that took part in the Rugby Championship, but I have Moody coming in in place of Nepo Laulala. Moody’s been robbed by injury this year, but was super consistent in his gametime for the Crusaders and is a reliable hand at test level.
Hookers
Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor
No changes to the three hookers from the Rugby Championship. All three got gametime, all three performed well and Foster will be comfortable throwing any of the three into the biggest World Cup games.
Locks
Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Whitelock
Between Vaa’i and Josh Lord as the fourth lock, and while it’s tough on Lord, I’ve gone with Vaa’i for that role. He’s been part of every one of Foster’s All Blacks squads since 2020 and hasn’t done anything to warrant being dropped now.
Lord has shown he can play a big role for the All Blacks going forward and will no doubt get that chance in the future.
Loose forwards
Sam Cane (c), Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea
Ethan Blackadder would’ve been a clear bolter into this side, had he not suffered another injury setback two weeks ago, when he tweaked his calf muscle again. Foster hasn't offered much clarity around his timeframe to return, so on that basis, you’d have to think that’s curtains for his World Cup chances.
Finau impressed on debut against the Wallabies, he grew into the game and once he started getting busy, he looked more and more comfortable.
Halfbacks
Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber
Some movement at halfback, with Weber coming in for Finlay Christie, who got his chance during the Rugby Championship and just didn’t take it, offering little in the way of a running game, while his kicking was poor.
Weber has done the job for the All Blacks before, so nothing should be read into his omission from the Rugby Championship squad, and if Smith was to go down, he’s the clear next best option to start.
Roigard was impressive in his tests debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He’s a bigger body, offers a great point of difference with his left foot and has a strong running game.
First-fives
Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga
Pretty simple selections here, both in stellar form, both doing a great job in their performances during the Rugby Championship. I've named Beauden Barrett as an outside back, because that’s where he’s likely to be used.
Despite a shaky display at Dunedin, McKenzie was never at risk of losing his spot.
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown
Some very straightforward selections and then I’ve opted to drop Dallas McLeod in place of Havili.
While Havili has been on the sidelines for the past few weeks, he’s been a big part of this World Cup cycle and has really grown as a midfielder. He’s been in and around the All Blacks squad throughout the Rugby Championship, which shows he’s never fallen off their radar.
Braydon Ennor also goes, an extra midfielder in place of an outside back. Jordie Barrett, Ioane, Havili and Ennor can all cover wing if need be, while Jordie Barrett and Havili can cover fullback, alongside Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett and McKenzie, so there’s no real need to carry additional specialists in that area.
Outside backs
Beauden Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Will Jordan, Mark Telea
The big battle here is for the left wing spot. I can’t see room for two specialist left wingers, so Caleb Clarke and Fainga’anuku are in a two-way battle for one spot, and it’s too tough to leave out Fainga’anuku, based on what we’ve seen all year from both.
Shaun Stevenson just hasn’t had enough time to press his case and didn’t set the world on fire on debut. As someone who’s predominantly a fullback, he finds himself in a logjam in that area.
Only four travelling as specialist outsides, with so many other options to cover those positions.
Full squad
Props - Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams
Hookers - Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Codie Taylor
Locks - Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Whitelock
Loose forwards - Sam Cane (c), Samipeni Finau, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea
Halfbacks - Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber
First-fives - Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga
Midfielders - Jordie Barrett, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown
Outside backs - Beauden Barrett, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Will Jordan, Mark Telea
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter
