ALL BLACKS CAPTAINCY DECIDED AS SCOTT ROBERTSON SNUBS RECORD HOLDER FOR SON OF SAMOAN LEGEND
Ardie Savea has been beaten to the captaincy role by Scott Barrett after new All Blacks boss Scott Robertson named his first-ever squad.
The lock edged out the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year due to his connection with the New Zealand head coach from their Crusaders days.
Barrett worked under Robertson as they secured seven Super Rugby titles in as many seasons before the 49-year-old exited to become All Blacks boss.
Reasons for Barrett over Savea
“There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important. He’s tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches,” Robertson said.
“Leadership is a shared responsibility and Ardie, Jordie and our wider leadership group will be crucial to how we come together and connect ahead of the first Test against England.
“As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we’ve selected. We know it’s a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024.”
Barrett leads an experienced All Blacks side, with much of the squad that reached the 2023 World Cup final being retained, although there are some obvious big names missing.
That includes Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Brodie Retallick and Shannon Frizell, who are playing their rugby in Japan, and the retiring Sam Whitelock.
Previous skipper Sam Cane is eligible for this season’s Test campaign but he is still nursing an injury picked up in March, which means that he is currently unavailable for selection.
As well as Cane, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Cam Roigard weren’t considered due to injury.
“When you think of the leaders who have gone before you, it’s quite humbling to be asked to captain the All Blacks, so it’s not something I took lightly,” Barrett said.
“It’s a big responsibility, but I have two great leaders beside me in Ardie and Jordie, and I know we’ll have the full backing of the coaches.”
Newbies and the biggest surprise
There are also some newbies in the squad ahead of the games against England and Fiji in July, with George Bell, Pasilio Tosi, Cortez Ratima, Billy Proctor and Wallace Sititi the uncapped players selected.
Sititi, who is the son of Samoan legend Semo, is arguably the most interesting inclusion after his stunning year for the Chiefs.
The number eight gets in ahead of Hoskins Sotutu, who is the shock exclusion after his record-equalling year in the Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific triumph.
In 2024, the 25-year-old moved alongside Malcolm Marx, Codie Taylor and Folau Fainga’a for most tries scored by a forward in a Super Rugby season with 12, but that was not enough for Robertson.
Sotutu’s fellow Blues forward, Patrick Tuipulotu, does make it however, but there are only three second-rows in the squad.
Young lock Sam Darry, another player from the Auckland outfit, misses out on the main 32 but joins the squad as cover alongside Ruben Love, George Bower and David Havili.
“It’s a proud moment for them and their families. They’ve earned their places through performance and consistency and it’s an exciting time in their careers. As coaches, we will get them ready so they can take their opportunity when it comes,” Robertson added.
Scott Robertson’s 32-man All Blacks squad
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett (c), Tupou Vaa’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Backs: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele’a
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