Standing at 1.90m and 122kg, the 22-year-old is a behemoth of a man and is still incredibly young for a prop, but he put his enormous frame to good use throughout the Super Rugby season to impress in the Aotearoa and Trans-Tasman competitions. The selection of Ethan de Groot is another a lot of people might not have seen coming, but anyone who has watched the Highlanders this year knows the damage he can inflict on his opponents.
BLACK SQUAD RANKS SERIES
#SquadAnnouncement! Ian Foster reveals his squad for the Test Series against and #rugby #news
Some may say he is too raw of a prospect to be playing Test rugby at this stage of his career, but it could also do a world of good for his development as he looks to realise the potential everyone first saw during his 1st XV days at Hamilton Boys’ High School. Not many would have foreseen this selection, but injuries to Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue, as well as the departure of Ngani Laumape, has allowed Tupaea to force his way into the squad as a damaging ball-carrying midfielder. Mostly used at blindside flank by the Crusaders, expect Blackadder to go head-to-head with Shannon Frizell for a place in the starting line-up.Īrguably the biggest bolter of this squad, Quinn Tupaea is in line for an All Blacks debut at the age of just 22. WinnersĮmulating his father and former All Blacks captain Todd, Ethan Blackadder has been named in the national squad for the first time on the back of a standout season for the Crusaders.Īn uncompromising loose forward who was at the forefront of everything for Scott Robertson’s men this year, All Blacks selection is deserved reward for the 26-year-old, who could well get a fair bit of game time against Tonga and Fiji next month. With all that in mind, here are the winners and losers of Foster’s first All Blacks squad of 2021. He has also recalled a few players who have missed out in recent seasons, dropped numerous others were involved last year and overlooked some who many pundits projected to make the cut. With head coach Ian Foster under pressure to bounce back from an underwhelming campaign last year, he has opted to bring in five uncapped players, including four newbies.
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