Prop Tevita Mafileo is the only uncapped player in a largely predictable 36-man All Blacks squad announced on Monday for next month’s Grand Slam tour against the four Home Unions — Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.
Mafileo, who has previously travelled with the team as injury cover, earns his first official call-up in the absence of Tyrel Lomax, one of several players sidelined through injury. Other unavailable players include Tupou Vaa’i, Noah Hotham, Emoni Narawa, Ollie Norris, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, and Stephen Perofeta.
Head coach Scott Robertson has turned to familiar faces from the Rugby Championship squad to fill the gaps, with George Bell the only new addition outside that group. Robertson’s touring party includes 20 forwards and 16 backs, with Scott Barrett continuing as captain.
The All Blacks’ schedule features four test matches:
Ireland – Nov 2, Soldier Field, Chicago
Scotland – Nov 9, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
England – Nov 16, Twickenham, London
Wales – Nov 23, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
The match against Ireland will revive memories of the historic 40–29 defeat in Chicago in 2016, Ireland’s first-ever win over New Zealand.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett returns from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the second Bledisloe Cup test, joining Damian McKenzie as the squad’s two specialist No.10s. Ruben Love is also available to provide cover at flyhalf. Finlay Christie replaces the injured Hotham as the third scrumhalf, alongside Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima.
Josh Lord has been named among the four locks, while Luke Jacobson features in a seven-man back row group.
This tour marks the All Blacks’ first Grand Slam attempt in 15 years. New Zealand has completed the feat — victories over all four Home Unions on a single tour — four times in their storied history: 1978, 2005, 2008, and 2010.
Forwards:
Codie Taylor (hooker, 34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 103)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (hooker, 28, Chiefs / Waikato, 39)
George Bell (hooker, 23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 3)
Ethan de Groot (prop, 27, Highlanders / Southland, 37)
Tamaiti Williams (prop, 25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 23)
George Bower (prop, 33, Crusaders / Otago, 24)
Fletcher Newell (prop, 25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 31)
Pasilio Tosi (prop, 27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 12)
Tevita Mafileo (prop, 27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, *)
Scott Barrett (lock, 31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 86) (Captain)
Sam Darry (lock, 25, Blues / Canterbury, 6)
Fabian Holland (lock, 23, Highlanders / Otago, 9)
Josh Lord (lock, 24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 8)
Samipeni Finau (lock/loose forward, 26, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Simon Parker (loose forward, 25, Chiefs / Northland, 5)
Ardie Savea (loose forward, 31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 103) (Vice-Captain)
Du’Plessis Kirifi (loose forward, 28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 6)
Wallace Sititi (loose forward, 23, Chiefs / North Harbour, 15)
Peter Lakai (loose forward, 22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 5)
Luke Jacobson (loose forward, 28, Chiefs / Waikato, 25)
Backs:
Cortez Ratima (halfback, 24, Chiefs / Waikato, 18)
Cameron Roigard (halfback, 24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 14)
Finlay Christie (halfback, 30, Blues / Tasman, 27)
Beauden Barrett (first-five eighth/fullback, 34, Blues / Taranaki, 141)
Damian McKenzie (first-five eighth/fullback, 30, Chiefs / Waikato, 70)
Anton Lienert-Brown (midfield, 30, Chiefs / Waikato, 86)
Jordie Barrett (midfield, 28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 77) (Vice-Captain)
Quinn Tupaea (midfield, 26, Chiefs / Waikato, 21)
Billy Proctor (midfield, 26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 9)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (midfield/outside back, 26, Crusaders / Tasman, 8)
Rieko Ioane (midfield/outside back, 28, Blues / Auckland, 87)
Caleb Clarke (outside back, 26, Blues / Auckland, 30)
Sevu Reece (outside back, 28, Crusaders / Southland, 36)
Leroy Carter (outside back, 26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3)
Will Jordan (outside back, 27, Crusaders / Tasman, 50)
Ruben Love (outside back/first-five eighth, 24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4)
Unavailable due to injury:
Patrick Tuipulotu (ruled out after initially being named in the squad), Tyrel Lomax; Tupou Vaa’i; Noah Hotham; Emoni Narawa; Ollie Norris; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Asafo Aumua; Stephen Perofeta; Timoci Tavatavanawai
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