Ardie Savea will not play in the first Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies

The All Blacks have announced a squad of 33 players that will travel to Melbourne for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies.

Ardie Savea will remain on New Zealand soil to prepare for the birth of his child and is expected to return when the squad assembles for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies at Eden Park on September 24th.

Loose-forward Luke Jacobson will be the injury cover for Shannon Frizell, who suffered a rib injury during the side’s win over Argentina last Saturday.

Frizell joins Jack Goodhue and Patrick Tuipulotu on the list of injured players that are not available for selection next week.

A few prominent players that will travel to Australia include Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, George Bower, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga and Will Jordan.

The All Blacks will meet the Wallabies in Round 5 of the Rugby Championship at 9.45pm next Thursday, while Argentina will host the Springboks at 7.10am next Sunday.

The 33-strong squad for the trip to Melbourne is as follows: (Age, Super Rugby club, Province, Test caps).

Forwards:

Hookers

Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 83) Samisoni Taukei'aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 15) Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 71)

Props

George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 18) Ethan de Groot (24, Highlanders / Southland, 8) Nepo Laulala (30, Blues / Counties Manukau, 41) Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Tasman, 18) Fletcher Newell (22, Canterbury / Crusaders, 3) Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 47)

Locks Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 54) Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 96) Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 14) Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 138)

Loose Forwards Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 84) Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 17) Luke Jacobson (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 12) Dalton Papali’i (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 16) Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 10)

Backs:

Half-backs Finlay Christie (26, Blues / Tasman, 10) Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2) Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 109)

First five-eighths Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 107) Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 39) Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki 1)

Midfielders Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5) David Havili (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 20) Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 54) Quinn Tupaea (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 13)

Outside backs Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 43) Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 9) Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2) Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Tasman, 19) Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 20)

Released for Bunnings Warehouse NPC: Aidan Ross, Angus Ta'avao, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Unavailable due to injury: Shannon Frizell, Jack Goodhue, Patrick Tuipulotu.