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It was a good day for George Bower and Du’Plessis KIrifi, as they were called up to the All Blacks team to travel to Australia for the Tri-Nations tournament, and perhaps an even better one for Auckland No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu.
Otago mainstay Bower and Wellington loose forward Kirifi were named new faces on Ian Foster’s 36-member traveling squad on Tuesday to provide additional coverage, with Joe Moody going through the HIA protocols. head injuries) and teammate Nepo Laulala and loosie Ardie. Save them both on paternity leave.
With Laulala and Savea set to miss at least the opening test in Australia against the Wallabies on October 31, at least there will have to be a loose trio with a new look. Sotutu, who made great strides in his rookie campaign with the Blues in 2020, appears to be the main beneficiary of that.
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South’s George Bower in the North vs. South Captain’s Run.
In Savea’s absence, Sotutu will likely rank at No. 8 to face the Wallabies at ANZ Stadium, along with skipper Sam Cane and No. 6 Shannon Frizell. It would be his first test outing, after the 22-year-old Aucklander played 16 minutes off the bench in Wellington and a quarter of an hour last Sunday at Eden Park in the All Blacks’ 27-7 win.
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Laulala’s absence will likely result in a second tryout appearance for Tasman and Hurricanes, Tyrel Lomax, as a backup in Sydney. Laulala also missed the inaugural Bledisloe in Wellington for personal reasons, and was replaced by Lomax at the time.
The team also features blocking retention Mitchell Dunshea and midfielders Ngani Laumape and Peter Umaga-Jensen who had previously met with the All Blacks as a cover. Umaga-Jensen made her test debut from the bench at Eden Park in a promising cameo, before leaving the field early with a blow to the head.
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster said Beauden Barrett performed well in his role as playmaker against the Wallabies.
The All Blacks will initially travel with 36 players to Australia on Sunday, and Savea and Laulala are expected to join the team in the next week or two. They play four events in total – the first two against the Wallabies on consecutive Saturdays as they look to nail another Bledisloe Cup, and then they will conclude the competition with consecutive international matches against Argentina on November 14 and 28.
The 28-year-old Lower Hutt-born Bower can cover both close and loose head. He started his rugby for the Avalon club and appeared for the Wellington under-20 team in 2011, before moving to Dunedin to train as a teacher.
He played a game for Otago in 2014 and only returned in 2018 when he became a regular member of the team. He was signed by the Crusaders for the 2019 season and has helped the team to two Super titles.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Ardie Savea is expected to miss the first Three Nations event in Sydney due to paternity leave.
Kirifi, a wide winger for Wellington and Hurricanes, was educated at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth, where he was Jordie Barrett’s former teammate in XV.
The 23-year-old, named for former Springbok captain Morne du Plessis, made his first appearance with the Hurricanes as injury coverage in 2018, following an impressive debut season with Wellington in the Miter 10 Cup. displayed outstanding form in 2020 for both the Hurricanes and as captain of the Wellington Lions.
Meanwhile, three team members have been released to play Miter 10 Cup rugby this weekend. Dunshea and forward Cullen Grace will be available for Canterbury’s game against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on Saturday afternoon, while forward Akira Ioane will be able to play in Auckland’s clash against North Harbor in Albany on Saturday night.
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
Nepo Laulala will take paternity leave.
Ioane was also available for Auckland last Saturday, but was not required by coach Alama Ieremia as his release came too late in the week.
All Blacks team for Tri-Nations in Australia:
Forward: Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles and Codie Taylor. Accessories: George Bower, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Karl Tu’inukuafe, and Ofa Tuungafasi. Locks: Scott Barrett, Mitchell Dunshea, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, and Samuel Whitelock. Looseforwards: Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell, Cullen Grace, Akira Ioane, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, and Hoskins Sotutu.
Backs: Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber. First five eighths: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga. Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Rieko Ioane, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Peter Umaga-Jensen. From behind: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.
Three-nation schedule (NZT kickoffs):
v Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, October 31 (9:50 pm)
v Australia, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, November 7 (9:45 PM)
v Argentina, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, November 14 (7:10 p.m.)
v Argentina, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, November 28 (21:45)
