All Blacks Squad Named For Rugby Championship In South Africa

The widespread expectation of changes to the All Blacks after last weeks series loss to Ireland has not happened with the naming of the touring squad to South Africa for the two Rugby Championship matches.

Coach Ian Foster has named a largely unchanged squad, with Sam Cane retained as captain. He has said there are some changes coming from within the side, but would only confirm that Joe Schmidt was an independent selector, and that he would not be travelling to South Africa. The only new players returning into the squad are prop Ethan De Groot and loose forward Shannon Frizell.

Hookers

Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukeiaho, Codie Taylor 

Props

Aidan Ross, George Bower, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ethan de Groot, Angus Ta’avao 

Locks

Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Samuel Whitelock 

Loose Forwards

Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu 

Halfbacks

Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith 

First five–eighths

Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Stephen Perofeta

Midfielders

Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Quinn Tupaea 

Outside backs

Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece 

Replacement players travelling to South Africa:

Josh Dickson, Braydon Ennor, Tyrel Lomax

Ireland Win Series Over All Blacks

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks 32-22 in Wellington on Saturday night to win the Steinlager Series, and hand the home side it's first series defeat since the French in 1994. 

The All Blacks conceded a 22-3 lead to the Irish at halftime after another error riddled opening 40 minutes, with first half tries to flanker Josh Van der Flier, fullback Hugo Keenan and centre Robbie Henshaw. The All Blacks struck back early in the second half with a try to Ardie Savea, and had a second to Akira Ioane after the Irish were reduced to 14 men seeing the score tightened to 17-22. The Irish hit back with a penalty to Sexton, before the All Blacks again scored through wing Will Jordan. The Irish then finished out he match with a try to Rob Herring.

In another example of inconsistent refereeing, Irish prop Andrew Holden was yellow carded for a head clash with Brodie Retallick which saw him leave the field with a broken cheek bone. Last week in similar circumstances replacement prop Angus Ta'avao was red carded leaving the All Blacks to play with 14 men for the remainder of the match after also having several players yellow carded. Irish midfielder Bundee Aki was also lucky to escape punishment with referee Wayne Barnes missing a head clash in a ruck cleanout seeing prop Ofa Tuungafasi’s leave the field for a HIA and not return. All Black coach Ian Foster admitted in a post match press conference it was another "card lottery" with the potential match outcome defined by players leaving or staying on the field. 

The All Blacks attention now turns to the Rugby Championship with it's first match in South Africa on 7th August.

Ireland: 32 

Tries: Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Herring, Conversions: Johnny Sexton 3, Penalties: Sexton 2

New Zealand: 22 

Tries: Ardie Savea, Akira Ioane, Will Jordan, Conversions: Jordie Barrett 2, Penalty: Jordie Barrett

All Blacks Named To Face Ireland For Third Test

All Black coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Ireland for the deciding third test in Wellington this Saturday night.

Back in the side is lock Sam Whitelock after he withdrew last week with concussion symptoms, and this see's Scott Barrett move to blindside with Dalton Papalii dropping to the bench. Also in is tighthead prop Nepo Laulala, winger Will Jordan and second five David Havili who is back from Covid, while Dane Coles, Akira Ioane and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck come into the reserves.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Scott Barrett, 7. Sam Cane (c) 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 

16. Dane Coles, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19. Akira Ioane, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Folau Fakatava, 22. Richie Mo’unga, 23. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Ireland Beat Maori All Blacks

Ireland have split the series with New Zealand Maori after a 30-24 win in Wellington. 

Ireland: 30 

Tries: Jordan Larmour 2, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes, Conversions: Ciaran Frawley 2, Penalties: Frawley 2

Māori All Blacks: 24 

Tries: Shaun Stevenson, Ruben Love, Brad Weber tries, penalty try, Conversion: Josh Ioane 

Ireland Beat All Blacks

Ireland have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time with a 23-12 win in Dunedin. The game was a controversial one where the All Blacks had multiple yellow cards, and prop Angus Ta'avao sent off in the 30th minute after what seemed an accidental head clash when making a tackle. Ta'avao had only just entered the game as a front row yellow card replacement, and the resulting send off put the All Blacks on the back foot for the rest of the match. Number eight Ardie Savea had left the field to allow the All Blacks to match front rows for a scrum and was then not allowed to re-enter the game. The match officials had wrongly determined that he should not go back onto the field, with World Rugby later admitting the mistake post match. The All Blacks had said they would likely have removed a different player had this been known.

Ireland: 23

Tries: Andrew Porter 2, Conversions: Jonny Sexton 2, Penalties: Sexton 3

New Zealand All Blacks: 12

Tries: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Conversion: Jordie Barrett

Australia And South Africa Get Wins

Australia have beaten England 30-28 in Perth, whist playing the last 46 minutes of the match with 14 men. Lock Darcy Swain was sent off after head-butting Jonny Hill for retaliating for having his hair pulled. Australia had gone to the break at 6-6 after loosing fullback Tom Banks with a broken arm and prop Alan Alaalatoa to a head injury. Australia was behind 14-9 after 60 minutes, but two tries in seven minutes to Jordan Petaia and Folau Fainga’a put them ahead, and when Pete Samu added a third in the 77th minute the game was over at 30-14. England then ran in late tries to Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet in injury time. 

Australia: 30

Tries: Jordan Petaia, Folau Fainga'a, Pete Samu, Conversions: Noah Lolesio 3, Penalties: Lolesio 3

England: 28

Tries: Ellis Genge, Henry Arundell, Jack van Poortlviet, Conversions: Owen Farrell 2, Penalties: Farrell 3

South Africa have kicked a penalty goal in injury time to win 32-29 against Wales at Loftus Versfeld. It was a controversial ending to the match in which captain Dan Biggar was penalised for an intentional knock-on, and Wales had four players yellow carded. At one stage late in the match Wales were down to 12 players and had a 75th minute penalty try awarded against them, only for replacement hooker Dewi Lake to hit back with a try for Wales to tie the match. 

South Africa: 32

Tries: Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Penalty Try,  Conversions: Willemse 2 Penalties: Jantjies, Willemse

Wales: 29

Tries: Rees-Zammit 2, Dewi Lake, Conversion: Dan Biggar, Penalties: Biggar 3, Drop-Goal: Biggar

All Blacks Win First Test Against Ireland

The All Blacks have beaten Ireland 42-19 in their first test at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday night.

As was expected, it was a tough physical match early on, with the Irish getting the first try in the 5th minute to winger Keith Earls. The All Blacks did not help themselves with handling errors, but got on the board in the 20th minute with a try to Jordie Barrett, and again the the 29th minute when Sevu Reece picked up a loose ball to run 75 metres untouched. Second five Quinn Tupaea added the third try off a Beauden Barrett grubber kick, and Ardie Savea pounced on a loose ball in the Irish goal to see the All Blacks go to half time with four tries and a 28-5 lead.

The Irish struck back early in the second half with a try to centre Garry Ringrose to reduce the margin to 28-12, but Ardie Savea then struck back for the All Blacks with his second. The Irish held a territorial and possession advantage for the match, but handling errors saw the ball lost over the line twice when scoring, and strong defense and scrummaging from the All Blacks proved the difference.

New Zealand All Blacks: 42  

Tries: Jordie Barrett, Sevu Reece, Quinn Tupaea, Ardie Savea 2, Pita Gus Sowakula, Conversions: J Barrett 6 

Ireland: 19 

Tries: Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Conversions: Joey Carberry 2