After a week of turmoil in New Zealand rugby after the shock series defeat against Ireland at home it was announced that Foster is going nowhere and are still the head coach going into the Rugby Championship and that Sam Cane is still the captain.
They will be getting together next week to prepare for their two match tour to the Republic to face the World Champions, South Africa.
The All Blacks will be under huge pressure to perform in South Africa which makes them in our eyes very dangerous. If any person think that this All Blacks side has suddenly become a poor side then they will have a huge surprise coming their way.
This is a team that is hurting more than their supporters and they will want to turn things around against the Boks which is setting up this two matches in South Africa as something nobody will want to miss.
Foster has made some changes to his group for this tour and also still have some quality players which he could not select due to injury.
Joe Moody, Lienert-Brown Blackadder and Lord are all unavailable due to injuries. Damian McKenzie was also not available due to New Zealand rugby return to play policy.
The Bulk of the squad who played in the Irish series have been retained for the tour but do see the return of De Groot and Frizell.
The selectors also selected some cover for returning from injury and suspension, Ta’avao, Retallick and Goodhue. These players includes Ennor, Lamax and the uncapped player Josh Dickson.
The other uncapped player in the squad are Perofeta.
Ireland dominated the battle on the ground, set pieces and showed the problems in the All Blacks defence. This is something Foster and his team will want to get right against a Springboks side which will asked more or less the same questions from them than the Irish.
The Springboks have been dominate world rugby with their physicality and that will be a worrying factor for Foster coming to South Africa.
This by no means an easy start for the Boks to the tournament as they have not been convince against Wales. There are plenty to fix for Jacques Nienaber and it will be close test matches as we see it and really something to look forward too.
Here is the All Blacks squad to tour South Africa:
Forwards:
Hookers
Dane Coles (35, Hurricanes / Wellington, 81)
Samisoni Taukeiaho (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 11)
Codie Taylor (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 69)
Props
Aidan Ross (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 1)
George Bower (30, Crusaders / Otago, 14)
Nepo Laulala (30, Blues / Counties Manukau, 41)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (30, Blues / Northland, 47)
Ethan de Groot (23, Highlanders / Southland, 4)
Angus Ta’avao (32, Chiefs / Auckland, 22)
Locks
Scott Barrett (28, Crusaders / Taranaki, 50)
Brodie Retallick (31, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 95)
Patrick Tuipulotu (29, Blues / Auckland, 42)
Tupou Vaa’i (22, Chiefs / Taranaki, 12)
Samuel Whitelock (33, Crusaders / Canterbury, 134)
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane – Captain (30, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 80)
Shannon Frizell (28, Highlanders / Tasman, 17)
Akira Ioane (27, Blues / Auckland, 14)
Dalton Papalii (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 15)
Ardie Savea (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 62)
Hoskins Sotutu (24, Blues / Counties Manukau, 10)
Backs:
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie (26, Blues / Tasman, 6)
Folau Fakatava (22, Highlanders / Hawke’s Bay, 2)
Aaron Smith (33, Highlanders / Manawatu, 105)
First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett (31, Blues / Taranaki, 104)
Richie Mo’unga (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 35)
Stephen Perofeta (25, Blues / Taranaki *)
Midfielders
Jack Goodhue (27, Crusaders / Northland, 18)
David Havili (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 16)
Rieko Ioane (25, Blues / Auckland, 50)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (29, Blues / Auckland, 1)
Quinn Tupaea (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 9)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (25, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 39)
Caleb Clarke (23, Blues / Auckland, 5)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2)
Will Jordan (24, Crusaders / Tasman, 15)
Sevu Reece (25, Crusaders / Tasman, 20)
Replacement players travelling to South Africa:
Josh Dickson (27, Highlanders / Otago, *)
Braydon Ennor (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 5)
Tyrel Lomax (26, Hurricanes / Tasman, 14)
Rugby Championship Schedule for 2022
WEEK 1
SATURDAY 6 AUGUSTÂ South Africa vs All Blacks, 5:05PM (3:05AM SUNDAY 7 AUGUST NZT), MBOMBELA STADIUM, NELSPRUIT
WEEK 2
SATURDAY 13 AUGUSTÂ South Africa vs All Blacks, 5:05PM (3:05AM SUNDAY AUGUST 14 NZT), ELLIS PARK STADIUM, JOHANNESBURG
WEEK 3
SATURDAY 27 AUGUSTÂ All Blacks vs Argentina 7.45PM, ORANGETHEORY STADIUM, CHRISTCHURCH
WEEK 4
SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBERÂ All Blacks vs Argentina, 7.05PM, FMG STADIUM, HAMILTON
WEEK 5
THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBERÂ Australia vs All Blacks, 7:45PM (9:45PM NZT) MARVEL STADIUM, MELBOURNE
WEEK 6
SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBERÂ All Blacks vs Australia, 7.05PM, EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND
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