Hurricanes and All Blacks wing Julian Savea has missed out on selection for the 33-man All Black squad for the coming Rugby Championship series.
Julian Savea Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Savea, who was picked for the drawn series against the Lions, has struggled for form this season and misses out in an extended outside back grouping which includes newcomers Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie along with the return of Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Chiefs utility back McKenzie has been named as a replacement for All Blacks vice-captain Ben Smith who will take an extended break after the first two Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia,
The selectors have recalled Nepo Laulala from the Chiefs and Ofa Tu'ungafasi from the Blues to strengthen the front row as Charlie Faumuina heads to France.
Young Chief's prop Atu Moli has been named as an apprentice who will train with the squad.
Vaea Fifita keeps his place in the loose forwards with Canterbury's Matt Todd a noticeable execption from the squad.
The All Blacks play their first match of the 6-game Championship series against Australia in Sydney on August 19.
The full squad is as follows (with province, Investec Super Rugby team and Test caps in brackets):
Forwards
Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes, 49)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, 8)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders, 19)
Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury/Crusaders, 62)
Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders, 94)
Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau/Chiefs, 4)
Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders, 28)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues, 4)
Locks
Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders, 8)
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs, 64)
Luke Romano (Canterbury/Crusaders, 26)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders, 88)
Loose forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs, 44)
Vaea Fifita (Wellington/Hurricanes, 1)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues, 74)
Kieran Read, captain (Counties Manukau/ Crusaders, 100)
Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes, 16)
Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders, 8)
Backs
Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato/Chiefs, 25)
TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes, 33)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders, 62)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes, 53)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland/Highlanders, 7)
Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders, 27)
Ngani Laumape (Manawatu/Hurricanes, 2)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs, 13)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues, 36)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes, 2)
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay/Crusaders, 65)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues, 4)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu/Hurricanes, 8)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders, 13)
Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders, 62)
Utility back / Replacement
Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs, 2)
