NEW ERA: Scott Barrett Leads New Era for All Blacks as Captain for England and Fiji Matches.
Lock Barrett selected to lead the All Blacks against England.
For the upcoming Tests between the All Blacks and England and Fiji, lock Scott Barrett has been named the new captain of New Zealand. His vice-captains will be his brother Jordie and the current World Player of the Year, Ardie Savea. Beauden, the World Player of the Year twice, is the third Barrett brother in the first All Black squad under new coach Scott Robertson. Three other players have been called up.
Wallace Sititi, an uncapped loose forward for the Waikato Chiefs, received his first call-up in recognition of his fantastic season. The All Blacks play their first games against England in Dunedin on July 6 and then again in Auckland a week later. On July 20, they play Fiji in San Diego, California. Barrett, who has 69 caps after making his debut for the All Blacks in 2016, said, “It’s not something I took lightly, because it’s quite humbling when you think of the leaders who have gone before you.”
“It’s a big responsibility, but I have two great leaders beside me in Ardie and Jordie.” Ian Foster departed following South Africa’s loss in the World Cup final the previous year, and Robertson took his place. Barrett was coached by Robertson for seven years at the Crusaders. “There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important,” Robertson said. “He’s tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches.” Due to an injury, former captain Sam Cane, who will retire from international rugby at the end of the year, was not taken into consideration.
Alongside Sititi in the 32-man roster are four other uncapped players: prop Pasilio Tosi, scrum-half Cortez Ratima, hooker George Bell, and center Billy Proctor. TJ Perenara and Patrick Tuipulotu, who were both sidelined by injuries during New Zealand’s World Cup campaign in France, are back in the team. Half of Scrum With 80 caps, Perenara tore the same ligament during his recovery from two back surgeries, forcing him to miss more than a year of action.
“As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we’ve selected,” Robertson continued. “We know it’s a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024.” The following players represent New Zealand: forwards: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes), Codie Taylor (Crusaders), George Bell (Crusaders), Ethan De Groot (Highlanders), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders), Pasilio Tosi (Bay of Plenty), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues), Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury), Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders), Samipeni Finau (Chiefs), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs), Dalton Papali’i (Blues), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs)
Backs: Cortez Ratima (Chiefs), Finlay Christie (Blues), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Beauden Barrett (Toyota Verblitz), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes), Caleb Clarke (Blues), Emoni Narawa (Chiefs), Stephen Perofeta (Blues), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Mark Tele’a (Blues)
