Jamie Joseph has continued to rotate his All Blacks XV squad to give all players starting opportunities, with this weekend’s clash the last of the tour for the Kiwi development squad.
A Rugby World Cup-bound Uruguay side awaits at Stade Raoul Barrière, Béziers, France, but the All Blacks XV have named some capped talent of their own to extend their winning streak to seven.
Dalton Papali’i will again captain the team, this time with the No.8 on his back, joining Folau Fakatava and Dallas McLeod as the capped All Blacks in the starting XV.
Josh Fusitu’a, Bradley Slater, and George Dyer have been named to start in the front row, with locks Josh Beehre and Caleb Delany completing the tight five.
TK Howden moves back to his more familiar No.6 jersey this week, after playing at lock for the first time since his high school days in his All Blacks XV debut against England A last weekend. Fellow Highlanders flanker Sean Withy joins him on the openside flank while Papali’i packs down at the back of the scrum.
Fakatava joins Rivez Reihana in the halves, with the playmaker set to link with a familiar, all-Crusaders midfield in Dallas McLeod and Braydon Ennor. Etene Nanai-Seturo, Chay Fihaki, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens form a lethal back three to complete the starting XV.
On the bench, All Blacks rookie Brodie McAlister is set to bring impact alongside Siale Lauaki, Benet Kumeroa, Devan Flanders, and Kaylum Boshier in the forwards. Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, and Daniel Rona will also be on hand to provide energy off the pine.
“I’ve coached against them [Uruguay] three times,” All Blacks XV head coach Jamie Joseph said. “[They bring] Passion, South American emotion, a very passionate team, wear their hearts on their sleeves and play in the same kind of way, very abrasive on the defence side of things and go hard at the breakdown.”
Uruguay are on the rise in the world rankings, currently sitting 15th after wins against Romania and Portugal this season, while a defeat to Argentina is sure to have made them more battle-hardened.
“They do a lot of mauling, love the scrum. That’s kind of what you would say is the traditional kind of game from the South Americans. We’re expecting a real gritty game and no doubt they’ll get into us up front and try to put us under pressure there. We’ve just got to make sure that we can weather the storm.”
Fixture
Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies
All Blacks XV
Uruguay
All Blacks XV team to play Uruguay
- Josh Fusitu’a
- Bradley Slater
- George Dyer
- Josh Beehre
- Caleb Delany
- Te Kamaka Howden
- Sean Withy
- Dalton Papali’i (Captain)
- Folau Fakatava
- Rivez Reihana
- Etene Nanai-Seturo
- Dallas McLeod
- Braydon Ennor
- Chay Fihaki
- Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Reserves
- Brodie McAlister
- Siale Lauaki
- Benet Kumeroa
- Devan Flanders
- Kaylum Boshier
- Xavier Roe
- Josh Jacomb
- Daniel Rona
