New Zealand Rugby Championship Squad 2022 – Team to play Australia

Sarah Mockford

Who has Ian Foster picked to face the Wallabies?

New Zealand Rugby Championship Squad 2022

Sam Whitelock will captain the All Blacks in their final Rugby Championship match of the year, against Australia in Auckland on Saturday.

Regular skipper Sam Cane is injured, as are Scott Barrett, David Havili and Quinn Tupaea.

The injury-enforced changes see Dalton Papali’i and Akira Ioane come into the back row while Ardie Savea also returns at No 8 after taking parental leave for the first match against the Wallabies. Codie Taylor starts at hooker too.

In the back-line, Jordie Barrett moves from full-back to inside-centre with brother Beauden Barrett donning the No 15 shirt.

The All Blacks currently sit top of the Rugby Championship table thanks to a better points difference than South Africa. A bonus-point win over the Wallabies at Eden Park would put them in prime position to lift the trophy, although the Springboks will know exactly what they need to do to triumph in their later match against Argentina in Durban.

Ian Foster said: “We are determined to finish the tournament strongly and we know that Australia will throw everything at us. This is what Test-match rugby is all about and we can’t wait.”

New Zealand team to play Australia – Saturday 24 September

Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock (captain), Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea.

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sevu Reece.

New Zealand team to play Australia – Thursday 15 September

Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane (captain), Hoskins Sotutu.

Replacements: Dane Coles, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Quinn Tupaea.

New Zealand team to play Argentina – Saturday 3 September

Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.

Replacements: Dane Coles, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Quinn Tupaea.

New Zealand team to play Argentina – Saturday 27 August

Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.

Replacements: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Quinn Tupaea.

New Zealand team to play South Africa – Saturday 13 August

Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.

Replacements: Codie Taylor, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Tupou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Quinn Tupaea.

New Zealand team to play South Africa – Saturday 6 August

Jordie Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; George Bower, Samison Taukei’aho, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Akira Ioane, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.

Replacements: Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo’unga, Quinn Tupaea.

New Zealand Rugby Championship Squad 2022

There are minimal surprises in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship, but there are changes to the coaching team.

The All Blacks were heavily criticised after Ireland’s series win in New Zealand but Ian Foster remains at the helm of the back-room staff and he is sticking with openside Sam Cane as captain.

However, forwards coach John Plumtree and backs coach Brad Mooar have “parted ways” with the All Blacks.

Jason Ryan, the Crusaders and Fiji forwards coach, comes in to look after New Zealand’s pack. Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who has formally started his role as an All Blacks selector, will also take on an analysis position, working with Foster “on overall strategy and attack play”.

Of the coaching changes, Foster said: “Right now, I am really feeling for two fine men who are great rugby coaches that made an enormous contribution to the All Blacks.

“I have no doubt both coaches will go on to great success and I want to thank them for their hard work.

“Jason is a proven performer with plenty of experience at international level. Last year we witnessed first-hand the impact he has made on Fiji’s forwards, adding to his continual growth as the forwards coach of the Crusaders. His appointment now is clearly with an eye to the future and to the RWC 2023.”

The All Blacks start their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back Tests in South Africa.

Joe Moody, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ethan Blackadder and Josh Lord are unavailable due to injury, while Braydon Ennor, Tyrel Lomax and the uncapped Josh Dickson will travel with the squad to South Africa due to Angus Ta’avao, Brodie Retallick and Jack Goodhue making their way back from injury or suspension.

Retallick, Goodhue, Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tu’ungafasi will not travel to South Africa, with Fletcher Newell also called up to replace Tu’ungafasi, who sustained a neck injury during the third Test against Ireland.

Forwards

Scott Barrett (Crusaders)

George Bower (Crusaders)

Sam Cane (Chiefs)

Dane Coles (Hurricanes)

Ethan de Groot (Highlanders)

Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)

Akira Ioane (Blues)

Nepo Laulala (Blues)

Fletcher Newell (Crusaders)

Dalton Papalii (Blues)

Brodie Retallick (Chiefs)

Aidan Ross (Chiefs)

Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues)

Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs)

Samisoni Taukeiaho (Chiefs)

Codie Taylor (Crusaders)

Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues)

Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues)

Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs)

Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)

Backs

Beauden Barrett (Blues)

Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)

Finlay Christie (Blues)

Caleb Clarke (Blues)

Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)

Folau Fakatava (Highlanders)

Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)

David Havili (Crusaders)

Rieko Ioane (Blues)

Will Jordan (Crusaders)

Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)

Stephen Perofeta (Blues)

Sevu Reece (Crusaders)

Aaron Smith (Highlanders)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Blues)

Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs)

Travelling reserves for South Africa tour

Josh Dickson (Highlanders)

Braydon Ennor (Crusaders)

Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes)

New Zealand Rugby Championship Fixtures 2022

Sat 6 Aug South Africa 26-10 New Zealand

Sat 13 Aug South Africa 23-35 New Zealand

Sat 27 Aug New Zealand 18-25 Argentina

Sat 3 Sep New Zealand 53-3 Argentina

Thu 15 Sep Australia 37-39 New Zealand

Sat 24 Aug New Zealand v Australia (8.05am, Eden Park, Auckland) Live on Sky Sports

Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.

Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.