Fiji born Crusaders winger Sevu Reece has made the cut for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson’s 36 member squad for the Northern Tour.
The squad features just one change to the 36-man Rugby Championship squad, with Cam Roigard returning from the knee injury he sustained during the Super Rugby season and creating a halfback selection dilemma for the All Blacks coaches.
Robertson says it was fantastic to see Roigard in great form for Counties in the weekend and they are excited to have him back in the mix.
Fellow halfbacks Cortez Ratima and TJ Perenara showed during the Rugby Championship that they deserve their spots in the squad, and this means Noah Hotham will be included in the All Blacks XV squad, where he will be able to gain some valuable playing time.
The All Blacks coach says they have selected a squad that will bring consistency and continuity, while also achieving the right balance of giving newer talent the chance to develop within a team that has valuable experience against these northern hemisphere sides.
Forwards Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi. Backs Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a.
The All Blacks will play Japan on 26th October before facing England the following week on 3rd November
