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Wellington's Asafo Aumua called up for All Blacks' end of year tour

October 23, 2017

Steve Hansen likes what he sees in the young Wellington hooker.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named four uncapped players as he named his 37-man squad for his side's end of year European tour.

Young hooker Asafo Aumua has been included, after a breakout season for Wellington, while North Harbour outside back Matt Duffie has also been selected for his first taste in the All Blacks environment.

The All Blacks will face the Barbarians, France, a French XV, Scotland and Wales on their tour.

Prop Tim Perry will also link up with the squad, having trained with the All Blacks during the Rugby Championship after an injury crisis in the front row.

Young Northland centre Jack Goodhue was another inclusion, having spent time with the All Blacks during the British and Irish Lions series.

Taranaki centre Seta Tamanivalu has been recalled, and will have a chance to add to his three Test caps after making his debut against Wales in 2016.

However, there was no room for Wellington's Julian Savea, who has starred as his side progressed to the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final.

Brodie Retallick has not been selected, after he and his partner suffered a family tragedy last month.

Five players have been included initially to play for the Barbarians against the All Blacks, before joining the squad for the French leg of the tour.

Those players are: Otago's Dillon Hunt, Waikato's Atu Moli and Canterbury trio Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo'unga and Dominic Bird.

Hansen said six All Blacks, who have carried heavy workloads this year, will not play the Barbarians match.

They will join the All Blacks touring squad later next week.

Those players are: captain Kieran Read, hooker Dane Coles, prop Wyatt Crockett, lock Samuel Whitelock, and midfielders Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.

"The make-up of the Tour, with three Tests against France, Scotland and Wales, as well as matches against the Barbarians and the French XV, means we have the opportunity to come up against a range of different opposition and playing styles which will be exciting and a great learning experience," said Hansen.

All Blacks squad:

Forwards:

Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Wellington, uncapped)
Dane Coles (Wellington, 55)
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty, 9)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury, 25)

Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury, 68)
Kane Hames (Tasman, 6)
Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau, 10)
Tim Perry (Tasman, uncapped)
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Wellington, 1)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland, 11)

Locks
Scott Barrett (Taranaki, 14)
Luke Romano (Canterbury, 29)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland, 15)
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury, 93)

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty, 50)
Vaea Fifita (Wellington, 3)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 74)
Kieran Read, captain (Counties Manukau, 107)
Ardie Savea (Wellington, 21)
Liam Squire (Tasman, 12)
Matt Todd (Canterbury, 10)

Backs:

Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr–Barlow (Waikato, 24)
TJ Perenara (Wellington, 39)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu, 68)

First five–eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki, 59)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland, 13)

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, 32)
Jack Goodhue (Northland, uncapped)
Ngani Laumape (Manawatu, 4)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato, 19)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau, 43)

Outside backs
David Havili (Tasman, 3)
Matt Duffie (North Harbour, uncapped)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland, 10)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato, 9)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki, 15)
Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki, 3) 

All Blacks' Northern tour:

November 5: All Blacks v Barbarians, London
November 12: All Blacks v France, Paris
November 15: All Blacks v French XV, Lyon
November 19: All Blacks v Scotland, Edinburgh
November 26: All Blacks v Wales, Cardiff

The All Blacks coach wasn't having a bar of the accusations.

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