The All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup 2023 Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The All Blacks World Cup squad has been named, with coach Ian Foster springing no surprises in his selections.
The 33-strong squad includes veteran lock Brodie Retallick, who put a scare through the camp when he came off with a knee injury in the win over the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday.
The side will be captained by Sam Cane.
Midfielder David Havili returns to the squad despite not having played international rugby this year due to injury.
New Zealand's first game against France in Paris is in five weeks' time. The side's final test before the tournament is against South Africa at Twickenham in two-and-a-half weeks.
The World Cup squad was announced by former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in Napier on Monday afternoon in front of almost 2000 residents impacted by cyclone Gabrielle, as well as first responders.
The side would be the most-experienced New Zealand had ever sent to a World Cup, with 1493 test caps. Sam Whitelock had the most, 145, and this would be his fourth World Cup tournament.
"This year's Rugby World Cup promises to be the most competitive yet, and the pool draw means we have to be ready right from the outset," Foster said.
Ian Foster (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
"We have worked hard through the first part of our season and have made some strong progress through the Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe series. There is more growth to come and more is needed.
"This is a vastly experienced team but with over half the players going to their first RWC, it has a strong balance of youth and future planning."
All of New Zealand's Super franchises were represented in the side, as were 13 NPC teams.
Captain of the All Blacks World Cup side, Sam Cane. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Foster said Havili had earned his place in the squad despite being the only player picked who was not in the team that just defended their Rugby Championship title and the Bledisloe Cup, and believes will play a crucial role at the World Cup.
"David's had a lot of time with us last year, and we had a lot of faith in how he played, we like his skill set, and just because he hasn't been able to play with us in this campaign we've still been monitoring him very closely."
Injured prop Joe Moody was left out, but injured lock Brodie Retallick was included.
Loose forward Samipeni Finau was not included in the World Cup squad despite impressing on his test debut last weekend but would travel as injury cover for the final World Cup warm-up game against South Africa.
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"By naming this team in Napier and spending three days there in the community, we simply want to acknowledge the tremendous adversity the communities of the East Coast have endured recently," Foster said.
"We have felt helpless from afar and hope this small symbol of our support will assist in some small way."
The squad
The 33-strong squad is as follows (with age, Super Rugby team, province and test caps):
Forwards:
Hookers
- Dane Coles (36, Hurricanes / Wellington, 86)
- Samisoni Taukei'aho (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
- Codie Taylor (32, Crusaders / Canterbury, 79)
Props
- Ethan de Groot (25, Highlanders / Southland, 16)
- Tyrel Lomax (27, Hurricanes / Tasman, 26)
- Nepo Laulala (31, Blues / Counties Manukau, 49)
- Fletcher Newell (23, Crusaders / Canterbury, 7)
- Ofa Tu'ungafasi (31, Blues / Northland, 53)
- Tamaiti Williams (22, Crusaders / Canterbury, 2)
Locks
- Scott Barrett (29, Crusaders / Taranaki, 61)
- Brodie Retallick (32, Chiefs / Hawke's Bay, 103)
- Tupou Vaa'i (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, 21)
- Samuel Whitelock (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 145)
Loose forwards
- Sam Cane (31, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 89) - Captain
- Shannon Frizell (29, Highlanders / Tasman, 28)
- Luke Jacobson (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 14)
- Dalton Papali'i (25, Blues / Counties Manukau, 25)
- Ardie Savea (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 74)
Backs:
Halfbacks
- Finlay Christie (27, Blues / Tasman, 17)
- Cam Roigard (22, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 1)
- Aaron Smith (34, Highlanders / Manawatū, 118)
First five-eighths
- Beauden Barrett (32, Blues / Taranaki, 115)
- Damian McKenzie (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 42)
- Richie Mo'unga (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 48)
Midfielders
- Jordie Barrett (26, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 51)
- David Havili (28, Crusaders / Tasman, 25)
- Rieko Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 62)
- Anton Lienert-Brown (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 62)
Outside backs
- Caleb Clarke (24, Blues / Auckland, 18)
- Leicester Fainga'anuku (23, Crusaders / Tasman, 3)
- Will Jordan (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 24)
- Emoni Narawa (24, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 1)
- Mark Telea (26, Blues / North Harbour, 4)