All Blacks post-2019

[Lizard]

As of 8 Jan 2019 - I'm updating this as more info comes to hand...

Confirmed departures:
Owen Franks - Northampton
Steve Hansen
Nehe Milner-Skudder - Toulon
Waisake Naholo - London Irish
Matt Proctor - Northampton
Kieran Read - Toyota Verblitz
Ben Smith - Pau
Liam Squire - NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes
Jordan Taufua - Leicester

Rumoured to be leaving:
Dane Coles (Japan)
Ryan Crotty (Kubota Spears)
Aaron Smith (Japan)
Sonny Bill Williams (to Roosters NRL)

Off-contract but no indication yet:
Beauden Barrett
Jordie Barrett
Liam Coltman
Elliot Dixon
Shannon Frizell
Jack Goodhue
Kane Hames
Nathan Harris
David Havili
Jackson Hemopo
Richie Mo'unga
Tim Perry
Brodie Retallick
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
Matt Todd
Luke Whitelock

Re-signed with NZRU beyond RWC2019:
To 2020
Scott Barrett
Vaea Fifita
Nepo Laulala
Anton Lienert-Brown
Patrick Tuipulotu

To 2021
Sam Cane
Akira Ioane
Ngani Laumape
Damien MacKenzie
TJ Perenara
Ardie Savea
Codie Taylor
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Ofa Tu'ungafasi

To 2022
George Bridge
Reiko Ioane
Joe Moody
Dalton Papali'i

Rumoured to be staying:
Luke Romano
Sam Whitelock but with a sabbatical clause (Toulon and/or Japan)

IDK
Brett Cameron
Mitch Drummond
Gareth Evans
Dillon Hunt
Tyrel Lomax
Angus Ta'avao

[Lizard]

Edited OP with news of the re-signing of Tuipulotu (to 2020) and Papalii (to 2022).

[Lizard]

Contrary to rumour, Aaron Smith has signed until 2021.

[Lizard]

OP updated in accordance with this https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12218144, although the Herald doesn't seem to think Naholo's been nailed down by London Irish yet.

I seem to have missed Coles's re-signing over the summer holidays, and hadn't updated the OP with Luke Whitelock heading off to Pau (noted above by an astute reader). I've also moved Sam Whitelock and clarified his contractual status (TBF I can't see what would keep him here for 2020 though).

Presumably the focus is now on keeping Beauden Barrett and Retallick, closely followed by Mo'unga, the other Barrrett and possibly Goodhue.

[Lizard]

Crotty rumour has been confirmed.

[morepork]

I'd knock it on the head (!) now if I were him. He's had his bell rung too many times.

[Lizard]

He strikes me as the kind of guy who could quite quickly move into coaching. He had a knack of making players around him be better.

[Lizard]

Apparently Shag is coat-tailing off Reado into Toyota Verblitz.

Is there weirder professional sport set-up than top level pro rugby in Japan? An overgrown Business House competition, in Asia, populated by journeyman immigrants from the South Pacific, and studded with the odd semi-retired Former World XV Contender.

[Lizard]

Bloody Japs, eh? Eh?

[morepork]

Looks like Ardie is doing it. Good catch NZRFU

[Lizard]

Good. He is looking bloody awesome this year.

[J Dory]

Nonu looked good, could he?

[Lizard]

If Crotty got injured, I think he would be a good choice as an experienced leader in that part of the field - perhaps not an 80 (or even 60) minute player but able to come on and steady the ship, or start and lay a platform.

Assuming the other contenders remain fit, he is probably an outside prospect at the moment. He would be the oldest All Black since Ned Hughes was recalled at 40 in 1921, and easily the oldest back (Frank Bunce bowed out at 35 in 1997). He has proven he is up to Super Rugby standard, though. I would be happy to see him play in one or two TRC matches just to see if he’s got the goods. The downside is that it would reduce the opportunity for some newer combinations to be bedded in a bit more.

[Lizard]

Yes - 80 minutes of Super Rugby. It seems to be a common observation by players that test rugby is a step faster.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Goodhue likely your 13 for the foreseeable?

[Lizard]

I did say “perhaps” and I agree it would be a good idea to see how he goes in a test.

On the other hand, the All Blacks played 26 tests in Nonu’s last 2 seasons. He played in only 15 of those and went the full 80 only 7 times.

[J Dory]

Not looking likely for Nonu as he's missed out on the wider training squad. Still time I guess.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12220784

Edit: Full squad list:

Forwards: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock

Backs: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith

[zer0]

If he continues his upward trajectory, I definitely think Nonu will have a strong case for RWC selection. I also doubt he'll be too bothered by not being involved in a brief training camp. He's coming in cold off no rugby for months with the aim of peaking much later in the year. Proto-selections in April aren't his aim.

Hansen also likes to go on about the importance of experience, even when I say it's detrimental to overall performance -- see, for instance, J.Savea wobbling out against the Lions while Rieko is stuck in the stands, or Goodhue twiddling his thumbs while Crotty and Williams try and make it to halftime un-injured. Well, Nonu has just about more test experience (104 caps) than the other five options put together (140 caps). Indeed, remove one of Crotty or Williams, and he has more caps than the remaining four. Having a well-performing, 2 x RWC winning, test centurion pesting around a RWC squad could be handy.

Will be interesting to see how things develop.

[Lizard]

So this training group excludes the following currently eligible 2016-18 All Blacks:

Brett Cameron*
Elliott Dixon**
Mitch Drummond*
Gareth Evans*
Kane Hames***
David Havili***
Dillon Hunt*
Nehe Milner-Skudder****
Dalton Papali'i (Capped v Japan and as a sub v. Italy)
Tim Perry****
Matt Proctor*
Luke Romano***
Jordan Taufua (AB's squad but never capped)

* Only cap was for "B" team v Japan 2018
**Not selected since 2016
***Not selected since 2017
****Injured

[morepork]

What's the story with Liam Squire. He was looking a bit stink wasn't he? I hope Taufua gets a crack.

[Lizard]

SBW is also out for knee surgery (6 weeks), no replacement named for the "foundation" squad but I bet Ma'a is super-casually walking past Shag's open office door right now.

[zer0]

Nonu's stocks continuing to rise. Looking forward to see the match up between him and ALB on Saturday...

[Lizard]

Liam Coltman has signed on until 2022. So that's Coles, Taylor and Coltman all nailed down. If Harris re-signs then any current young, uncapped hookers might be advised to take an early OE.

[Spiffy]

You have to feel for McKenzie missing the RWC. This kid would have lit up the tournament with the way he plays rugby.

[morepork]

He must be gutted. This was his time to show his stuff (or get bulldozed by fatties).