All Blacks coach Steve Hansen yesterday named 10 uncapped players in a 38-man training group ahead of New Zealand’s three-Test series against France, saying he wanted to assess emerging talent.
The group, which will undergo two training camps before being whittled back on June 2, contained no major surprises. It includes all of New Zealand’s core playing group barring captain Richie McCaw, who is taking a sabbatical from the game.
“There’s some young players who are really putting their hand up,” Hansen said. “It’s about getting that mixture of experience and youthful enthusiasm, and making the decisions at the right time to introduce new blood.”
Photo: AFP
While some veterans such as lock Ali Williams, hooker Andrew Hore and center Ma’a Nonu have struggled for form in the Super 15 competition this year, Hansen was confident they could still perform for the All Blacks.
He said he was in no hurry to drop players who had proved themselves at international level and when the world champions set about rebuilding their team it would be a gradual process.
“You can’t dump everybody at once because you need experience to win Test matches ... there’s a lot of guys who have still got a lot of rugby left in them,” he said.
“They’ll come into our environment, they’ll play Test matches and, if they can play to the level we expect, they’ll stay there. If they can’t, then we have to make decisions,” he added.
Sam Cane was the only specialist openside flanker named in the absence of McCaw.
However, Hansen said Luke Braid, Tanerau Latimer and Matt Todd were all capable of providing cover at No. 7, and the selectors did not believe including them in the training group would provide any new insights.
Hansen said Otago Highlanders center Tamati Ellison was omitted from the training group after confirming last week that he will play in Japan at the end of the Super 15 season, but he could still be called up if needed.
Rene Ranger was included despite rumors he is considering an offer to play in France, with Hansen saying he would be disappointed if the outside back was offered a chance to add to his three Test caps and still departed.
The All Blacks are scheduled to open the Test series against France in Auckland on June 8.
The training group is: Backs — Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Ben Smith (Highlanders), Charles Piutau (Blues/uncapped), Frank Halai (Blues/uncapped), Hosea Gear (Highlanders), Rene Ranger (Blues), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Ma’a Nonu (Highlanders), Francis Saili (Blues/uncapped), Tom Taylor (Crusaders/uncapped), Dan Carter (Crusaders), Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Piri Weepu (Blues), Aaron Smith (Highlanders), T.J. Perenara (Hurricanes/uncapped), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs) and Julian Savea (Hurricanes).
Forwards — Kieran Read (Crusaders), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Liam Messam (Chiefs), Steven Luatua (Blues/uncapped), Brad Shields (Hurricanes/uncapped), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Luke Romano (Crusaders), Ali Williams (Blues), Dominic Bird (Crusaders/uncapped), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Ben Afeaki (Chiefs/uncapped), Tony Woodcock (Highlanders), Ben Franks (Hurricanes), Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes/uncapped), Andrew Hore (Highlanders), Keven Mealamu (Blues) and Dane Coles (Hurricanes).
Taiwanese tennis star Hsieh Su-wei on Wednesday advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles at the French Open, after she and German partner Mark Wallner defeated Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Briton Lloyd Glasspool in straight sets, despite temperatures exceeding 32°C in Paris, while Taiwan’s top men’s doubles player Ray Ho also reached the second round. Hsieh, who made it to the semi-finals in the mixed doubles at Roland Garros in 2024, and Wallner defeated Klepac and Glasspool 6-3, 7-5 in just more than an hour, converting three of five break points, while holding their opponents to just one conversion
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
FAST AND LOOSE: Despite command struggles, Ohtani has pitched his way out of trouble after falling behind in counts, which manager Roberts credited to his velocity Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night tossed six innings of no-hit ball, gave himself an early lead with a home run and still was not satisfied with his performance. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar dropped some expletives that were picked up by the on-field mic as he struggled with his command in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies. He struck out seven, walked four and gave up an earned run in the fourth inning while visibly fuming on the mound. Ohtani (5-2) earned his third consecutive victory. “Just command was off, and I just felt like I was battling the lack of
RSS