A selection of 36 All Blacks players for the Steinlager Series against Ireland was presented in July.
The template is as follows: * indicates a new cap
Forwards
HookersDane Coles (Hurricanes, Wellington) Codie Taylor (Crusaders, Canterbury) Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs, Waikato)
AtrezzoAidan Ross * (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty) George Bower (Crusaders, Otago) Nepo Laulala (Blues, Counties Manukau) Ofa Tuungfasi (Blues, Northland) Karl Tu’inukafe (Blues, North Harbor) Angus Tavao (Chiefs, Auckland). )
LocksSamuel Whitelock (Crusaders, Canterbury) Brodie Retallick (Chiefs, Hawkes Bay) Scott Barrett (Crusaders, Taranaki) Josh Lord (Chiefs, Taranaki) Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs, Taranaki)
Loose ForwardsPita Gus Sowakula * (Chiefs, Taranaki) Sam Cane – Capità (Chiefs, Bay of Plenty) Dalton Papalii (Blues, Counties Manukau) Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, Wellington) Akira Ioane (Blues, Auckland) Hoskins Sotutu (Blues Counties Manukau, )
Backs
Media Fatau Fakatava * (Highlanders, Hawkes Bay) Aaron Smith (Highlanders, Manawatu) Finlay Christie (Blues, Tasman)
Top Five EighthStephen Perofeta * (Blues, Taranaki) Beauden Barrett (Blues, Taranaki) Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders, Canterbury)
MidfieldersRoger Tuivasa-Sheck * (Blues, Auckland) Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs, Waikato) Jack Goodhue (Crusaders, Northland) Rieko Ioane (Blues, Auckland) David Havili (Crusaders, Tasman)
Back outsideLeicester Fainga’anuku * (Crusaders, Tasman) Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes, Taranaki) Will Jordan (Crusaders, Tasman) Caleb Clarke (Blues, Auckland) Sevu Reece (Crusaders, Tasman)
Selecting the team, All Blacks coach and coach Ian Foster said the first upward challenge in the Steinlager Series with the Irish starting at Eden Park on July 2 was huge.
“This will be the biggest domestic series since the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour for the All Blacks. There are massive expectations everywhere and it will be immensely competitive.”
Foster, along with teammates Grant Fox and John Plumtree, said it was an extremely difficult team to select.
“We would like to congratulate the six new hats on what will be a very special day for them and their families, who I am sure will be very proud of their success. We have a new group of exciting players who will be ready to make a difference with the All Black jersey.
“We would also like to congratulate Sam Cane for resuming his role as captain of All Black after injuries kept him out of the house for much of last year.
“It ‘s also great to see Jack Goodhue come back after his knee injury in 2020.
“We also know that there is a disappointment for the unselected players and we feel sorry for them right now.
“The strength of the All Blacks can often be judged by the quality of the men they have lost.”
Foster said there will be a training camp in Tauranga this week for non-DHL Super Rugby Pacific finalists, with the full team meeting first in Auckland and then in Northland from June 20-24.
Not available for selection due to injury: Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan Blackadder.
Not available for selection due to return criteria for New Zealand Rugby: Patrick Tuipulotu, Damian McKenzie.
Steinlager Series 2022
Saturday 2 July, All Blacks vs Ireland, 19.05 (NZST), Eden Park, AUCKLAND
Saturday 9th JulyAll Blacks vs Ireland, 19.05 (NZST), Forsyth Barr Stadium, DUNEDIN
Saturday 16 JulyAll Blacks vs Ireland, 19.05 (NZST), Sky Stadium, WELLINGTON
New All Blacks player profiles
Pita Gus Sowakula
Pita Gus Sowakula is a powerful loose striker who had an impact as the Chiefs ’injury replacement player in 2018.
At 195 cm (6 feet 5), Sowakula excelled in basketball and was selected for the 2012 FIBA Oceania Under-19 Championship for Fiji and figured for the Otago Nuggets.
He was also a gifted rugby player and was named the most promising player at the Taranaki Rugby Awards in 2017, two years after winning a silver medal in basketball with Fiji at the 2015 Pacific Games.
His stunning performances in 2018 earned him a full-time place in the Chiefs and he has since been a regular face on Day 23. His performances in the 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season have seen many take note of the powerful number 8, who impressed with his work pace and his ball blast.
Aidan Ross
Bay of Plenty supporter Aidan Ross was a member of the New Zealand U-20 team that won the 2015 U-20 Rugby World Cup in Italy.
In 2017, Ross was called up to the Chiefs team for injury coverage and made his debut against the Western Force.
Ross captained and led Bay of Plenty to victory in the 2019 NPC Championship final and continued his form until the 2020 Chiefs season as a regular starter.
The 26-year-old has been growing as a Super Rugby player in 2021 and 2022 and is known for his work pace and ability to grow his game.
Leicester Fainga’anuku
The 22-year-old Crusader has had a hugely successful DHL Super Rugby Pacific season so far, with a final to come.
A product of Nelson College First XV, Fainga’anuku was a young star chosen to pursue a career in representative rugby after representing New Zealand schools, Junior Crusaders, Crusaders Development XV and the New Zealand Under-20 team.
He made his provincial debut with Tasman in 2018 and earned a spot in the Crusaders lineup against the Brumbies in 2019.
At 188 cm tall and 109 kg tall, he is a versatile winger who can play both midfield and winger and was a key part of the Tasman Mako team that was attached to the 2019 NPC Premiership and 2020.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is a former rugby league superstar, winner of the NRL Premiership with the Sydney Roosters and medalist Dally M with the Warriors.
After making more than 200 appearances in the NRL and 20 tests for the Kiwis as a winger and winger, Tuivasa-Sheck brings extensive experience to the rugby union.
Prior to going to Sydney, Tuivasa-Sheck was a school rugby star at Otahuhu College and represented both the Blues Under 18 and New Zealand schools.
This season, however, the Blues midfielder is considered a DHL Super Rugby Pacific rookie, who made his second-round debut with an attractive performance against the Hurricanes.
Tuivasa-Sheck impressed the Blues throughout the DHL Super Rugby Pacific season with a characteristic speed, breakouts and electric footwork.
Esteve Perofeta
At 25, Stephen Perofeta has already amassed an impressive set of rugby credentials.
The Whanganui Collegiate schoolboy played first-class rugby for Whanganui while still in school, winning the selection at Heartland XV that same year.
Considered a player to watch from a very young age, Perofeta made his Super Rugby debut in 2017, helping to lead the Blues to victory against the British and Irish Lions on tour at Eden Park.
That same year, Perofeta won the selection as a late call-up for the New Zealand U-20 team, where he started in the top five when the team defeated England in the final of the U-20 Rugby World Cup.
Achieved in both the top five and side, Perofeta is now in his sixth season of Super Rugby, with good performances in both 2021 and 2022.
A key gear in the undefeated season of the Taranaki 2021 NPC Bunnings Warehouse Championship, Perofeta won the Duane Monkley Medal for Best NPC Player.
Perofeta has found her home as a defender throughout the 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season, forming a strong partnership with the top five Beauden Barrett in one of the most exciting backlines in the competition.
Vela
Folau Fakatava has been appointed as a player to watch from the outstanding performances at the school level with Hastings Boys.
Known for an exciting career game, a precise pass and a strong defense, the 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young players in the country.
The midfielder has been instrumental in Hawke’s Bay’s recent success, including helping his team secure promotion to the NPC Premiership in 2020. The exceptional form throughout this campaign saw that Fakatava awarded the Duane Monkley Medal for Best NPC Player.
After a promising start to the 2021 Highlanders campaign, Fakatava was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The Highlanders ’return to DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2022 has seen Fakatava return to his best moment, forming a formidable midfield combination with Aaron Smith.