Introducing the seven new All Blacks

The All Blacks selectors, head coach Ian Foster, assistant John Plumtree and former All Black Grant Fox, have appointed the team for the 2020 test rugby season.

Nine potential test rookies have been named, including forward rowers Asafo Aumua and Alex Hodgman, blocks Quinten Strange and Tupou Vaa’i, loose forwards Cullen Grace, Akira Ioane and Hoskin Sotutu, and wingers Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke.

Aumua and Ioane have worn the black jersey before in games against the Barbarians and a French XV, while seven of the new men have never played for the All Blacks.

Coaches and players spoke to the media after the South beat the North in the single replay match played in Wellington, New Zealand on September 5.

Alex Hodgman

Born and raised in Auckland, Alex Hodgman traveled south to start his professional career, making his debut for Canterbury in 2014. The 27-year-old mainstay won three Miter 10 Cup titles with the Reds and Blacks and managed nine Super Rugby matches. for the Crusaders before returning home to Auckland. Hodgman is now a regular feature of the Blues and Auckland and is a powerful scrummager with a high rate of field work.

Quinten strange

Quinten Strange, former captain of Nelson College First XV, is an athletic lineout forward who has been destined for a great future. After an impressive campaign with the New Zealand Under-20 team in 2016, Strange made his debut with Tasman later that year, playing in 11 games and securing an Investec Super Rugby contract with the Crusaders. It looked like his 2020 season would be cruelly ripped apart by a preseason injury, but Strange returned to make five appearances at Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Tupou Vai’i

Tupou Vaa’i, former chief prefect of Wesley College and captain of First XV, is the latest player to make his mark on the school’s proud history of producing All Blacks. Vaa’i made his provincial debut with Taranaki at age 18 in 2018 and the following year he made six appearances for the New Zealand Under-20 team. In 2020, Vaa’i transitioned to Super Rugby, playing all seven games at Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa and emerging as a brilliant prospect that the Chiefs recognized by extending his contract through 2023.

Cullen grace

Born in Hawera and raised in Timaru, Grace made his Investec Super Rugby debut in 2020 and immediately caught the attention of national teams as a dynamic and tough loose forward, with 87 tackles and 45 carries in his debut season. A thumb injury marked Grace for much of the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa, but he made a successful return to Canterbury field in his Ranfurly Shield defense against North Otago in August. Grace was captain of the Canterbury U19 team in 2018 and last year he was a member of the New Zealand U20 team.

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Hoskins Sotutu

22-year-old loose forward Hoskins Sotutu spent most of his rugby playing on the baseline, emulating his father Waisake, who also played for Auckland and the Blues. It was only in the later stages of his upbringing that Sotutu moved to the front group and has since played for New Zealand Under 20s, Auckland in the Miter 10 Cup and made his Super Rugby debut from the bench in 2019. This season, Sotutu drew attention as a powerful ball carrier and relentless defender. He was among the best in the competition with more than 100 carries and 80 tackles.

Caleb Clarke

Caleb Clarke was in brilliant form during Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa and was one of the best performers on the Blues in his six appearances in 2020. 1992-1998 All Black son Eroni, Clarke is an explosive winger who has the ability to claim silver. . , which led Mt Albert Grammar to the 1st XV national title in 2016 and as a member of the New Zealand Under 20 team that claimed the World Championship in 2017, the Auckland Miter 10 Cup winning team in 2018 and the winning All Blacks of the World Series this year. Seven’s team.

Will jordan

Will Jordan was one of the most talked about players in 2020, with his natural style and x-factor a key trait in the bottom line of the championship-winning Crusaders. Jordan, a product of Christchurch Boy’s High School, was a member of the 2017 New Zealand Under-20 team that won the World Championship and also made his Tasman debut later that year. His striking form in the 2019 Miter 10 Cup season saw Jordan help Tasman to his first prime ministerial title, and that form carried over to 2020, when Jordan finished the Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa season with the most tries , beaten defenders and meters. won.

– with New Zealand Rugby