All Blacks team named for Yokohama Test against Australia

Oct 25 • General News, International • 1559 Views • Comments Off on All Blacks team named for Yokohama Test against Australia

The All Blacks team has been named to play Australia at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Japan, on Saturday 27 October (Kick-off: 3.00PM, NZT: 7.00PM).

The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets):

Joe Moody (36)
2. Codie Taylor (38)
3. Owen Franks (103)
4. Samuel Whitelock (105)
5. Scott Barrett (25)
6. Liam Squire (20)
7. Ardie Savea (31)
8. Kieran Read – captain (114)
9. TJ Perenara (51)
10. Beauden Barrett (69)
11. Rieko Ioane (20)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (49)
13. Ryan Crotty (41)
14. Ben Smith (73)
15. Damian McKenzie (19)
16. Nathan Harris (18)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (9)
18. Nepo Laulala (13)
19. Brodie Retallick (71)
20. Matt Todd (14)
21. Aaron Smith (79)
22. Richie Mo’unga (4)
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (30)

Midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has been named to play in his 50th Test, a special milestone in a career which started in November 2010 when Williams made his Test debut against England.

The squad also features the return of several key players from injury. Joe Moody returns from his thumb injury and back into the number one jersey, while fellow prop Nepo Laulala is also back, named in the run on reserves. Liam Squire returns to the number six jersey while Brodie Retallick will make his return via the bench.

In other changes from the last Test side, TJ Perenara will start at halfback with Aaron Smith providing impact from the bench. Ben Smith moves to the right wing to make way for Damian McKenzie at fullback. Matt Todd provides loose forward cover from the bench.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said this weekend’s Test in front of a passionate rugby crowd in Yokohama was the perfect way for the All Blacks to kick off their Vista Northern Tour.

“We’ll be up against a good Australian team and they’ll be desperate to win, but so are we. We know that they’ll come with a lot of passion and physicality, but our focus this week has been about us and what we want to bring – intensity, skill and a triple threat game.

“Being well prepared, clear in our roles and excited about the opportunity in playing this one-off Test against Australia in Japan, will be a good start in achieving a quality performance.”

Hansen added: “It’s great to have Joe, Nepo, Liam and Brodie, as well as Matt Todd, back. As well as being world-class rugby players, they also add a lot of experience to the team, both on and off the track. We look forward to seeing them play again.

“The Test match will provide us with another great opportunity to put into practise what we have learnt throughout our recent Tests in the Rugby Championship, and grow our game in the first Test of what will be an exciting Vista Northern Tour.

“We’re also excited to be playing the first of our two Tests here in Japan. The Japanese people have been fantastic hosts and the team has enjoyed the cultural aspects of our time here. We look forward to seeing them on Saturday and hopefully having their support.”

Key facts – All Blacks vs Australia, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

* Saturday’s Test is the third against Australia this year. The All Blacks won the Bledisloe Cup earlier in the year with 38-13 and 40-12 victories in the Investec Rugby Championship. The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup (played between New Zealand and Australia) since 2003.

* The All Blacks and Australia have played 187 Tests since 1903, with 131 wins to the All Blacks, 49 to Australia and seven draws.

* As well as Sonny Bill Williams 50th Test, Aaron Smith will play his 80th Test, Ben Smith will play his 75th and Beauden Barrett will play his 70th.

* The All Blacks have scored 52 tries so far this year, the most by any top tier country, and have scored the most tries every calendar year since 2010.

* Rieko Ioane has scored ten of those tries, while Beauden Barrett has scored six. Five of Barrett’s tries were against Australia (with four in the second Bledisloe Cup Test), which equals Ben Smith’s 2013 record of tries scored against Australia.

* With 114 Tests, All Blacks Captain Kieran Read is the fourth most capped All Black of all time, behind Richie McCaw (148), Keven Mealamu (132) and Tony Woodcock (118).

The Vista 2018 All Blacks Northern Tour

vs. AUSTRALIA. Saturday 27 October, Nissan Stadium, YOKOHAMA
Kick-off: 3.00PM (NZT: 7.00PM)
2. vs. JAPAN. Saturday 3 November, Ajinomoto Stadium, TOKYO
Kick-off: 2.45PM (NZT: 6.45PM)
3. vs. ENGLAND. Saturday 10 November, Twickenham, LONDON
Kick-off: 3.00PM BST (NZT: 4.00AM Sunday 11 November
4. vs. IRELAND. Saturday 17 November, Aviva Stadium, IRELAND
Kick-off: 7.00PM BST (NZT: 8.00AM Sunday 18 November)
5. vs. ITALY. Saturday 24 November, Stadio Olimpico, ROME
Kick-off: 3.00PM CST (NZT: 3.00AM Sunday 25 November)