All Blacks take just one first-five to Australia

The All Blacks have selected just one first-five in the initial 35 man squad for the rest of the Rugby Championship and the end of year tour to the US and Europe.

With Richie Mo’unga staying home for the birth of his child, Beauden Barrett is the only number 10 in the group that leaves for Perth today.

Captain and centurion lock Sam Whitelock (filling in for Sam Cane) and veteran halfback Aaron Smith are also staying home due to the imminent arrivals of their respective babies.

All three will link up with the team at a later date.

TJ Perenara and Jordie Barrett are among the players likely to provide backup at first-five.

Captain and centurion lock Sam Whitelock (filling in for Sam Cane) and veteran halfback Aaron Smith are also staying home and will link up with the team later due to the imminent arrivals of their respective babies.

Loose forward Shannon Frizell, who recently offered diversion on assault charges relating to an incident in May this year in Dunedin, has not been named in the squad.

The All Blacks play the final Bledisloe Cup/Rugby Championship test in Perth next weekend, before relocating to Queensland for four Rugby Championship games against the Sprinboks and Argentina.

Injured hooker Dane Coles isn’t in the squad but is expected to join the side later in the Rugby Championship campaign once he recovers.

However props Joe Moody and Ofa Tuungafasi, both returning from injury, have been included, as has midfielder Braydon Ennor.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said: “We’ll be playing ten Tests in 12 weeks in both the southern and northern hemispheres, and with Covid-19 travel and quarantine restrictions, this will be a tour like no other for us in the professional era. We can’t wait to get underway and once again represent our country on the world stage.”

The All Blacks squad departs to Perth at 6.30pm.

The All Blacks initial travelling squad is as follows:

Forwards:

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Codie Taylor.

Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi.

Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i.

Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Hoskins Sotutu.

Backs:

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber.

First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett.

Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea.

Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.