IMAGE CAPTION: Du’Plessis Kirifi and Quinn Tupaea, All Blacks XV v Munster, Thomond Park Ireland. IMAGE CREDIT: Ben Brady / Inpho.
The All Blacks XV team has been named ahead of their second match of the Northern Tour against Georgia at GGL Stadium, Montpellier, France on Sunday 10 November, kick-off at 2PM CET (2AM, Monday 11 November NZDT).
All Blacks XV team named for clash against Georgia (Super Rugby Club / Province):
- George Bower (Crusaders / Otago)
- Kurt Eklund (Blues / Bay of Plenty)
- Marcel Renata (Blues / Auckland)
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
- Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)
- Caleb Delaney (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Du’Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Simon Parker (Chiefs / Northland)
- Finlay Christie (Blues / Tasman)
- Josh Jacomb (Chiefs / Taranaki)
- Kini Naholo (Hurricanes / Taranaki)
- Riley Higgins (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Dallas McLeod (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs / Waikato)
- Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs / North Harbour)
- Bradley Slater (Chiefs / Taranaki)
- Xavier Numia (Hurricanes / Wellington)
- Saula Ma’u (Highlanders / Otago)
- Fabian Holland (Highlanders / Otago)
- Corey Kellow (Crusaders / Canterbury)
- Devan Flanders (Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
- Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman)
- Chay Fihaki (Crusaders / Canterbury)
All Blacks XV Head Coach Clayton McMillan has named his playing 23 to challenge Georgia’s national team, in their second and final match of the 2024 Northern Tour.
Following a 38 – 24 win against Munster in Ireland last weekend, McMillan has made a number of changes to the starting line-up team anticipating an exciting match in Montpellier.
“After an intense match against Munster, we want to build on our performance last week. We’re going up against a full strength national Georgia side who have shown they’re fierce competition this year, they will be hungry for a win and we need to match that.”
The All Blacks XV starting front row features loosehead prop George Bower, tighthead prop Kurt Eklund and Marcel Renata moves to the starting line-up at hooker. Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia and Saula Ma’u will provide impact off the bench.
Isaia Walker-Leawere and Naitoa Ah Kuoi make up the locking duo this weekend, with Caleb Delaney, Du’Plessis Kirifi (Captain) and Simon Parker the loose forward trio. Fabian Holland, Corey Kellow and Devan Flanders are on the bench.
In the backs, Finlay Christie and Josh Jacomb take the field at halfback and first five-eighth, with Noah Hotham on the bench. Hurricanes rising talent Riley Higgins will play at no. 12, with Dallas McLeod at centre.
The back three is made up of Kini Naholo on the left wing, Quinn Tupaea moves to the right wing and Shaun Stevenson returns at fullback, Chay Fihaki will provide impact off the bench.
All Blacks XV Northern Tour 2024:
SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER – All Blacks XV (38) v MUNSTER (24), THOMOND PARK, LIMERICK, IRELAND
SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER – All Blacks XV v Georgia, 2pm (CET) GGL STADIUM, MONTPELLIER, FRANCE
About the All Blacks XV
The All Blacks XV was launched as NZR’s next senior national men’s representative team after the All Blacks, as a critical high-performance pathway to the All Blacks. As the next senior national representative side, the All Blacks XV will have the same high expectations as the other Teams in Black.
The All Blacks XV follows in the footsteps of similar teams which have assembled throughout New Zealand rugby’s history, including the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand A and Emerging Players.
Teams
Georgia squad: Vano Karkadze, Luka Nioradze, Nika Sutidze, Nika Abuladze, Giorgi Akhaladze, Irakli Aptsiauri, Luka Japaridze, Alexsandre Kuntelia, Giorgi Mamaiashvili, Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze, Demur Epremidze, Lasha Jaiani, Giorgi Javakhia, Luka Ivanishvili, Tornike Jalaghonia, Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, Beka Saghinadze, Beka Shvangiradze, Ilia Spanderashvili, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Gela Aprasidze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tengiz Peranidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Luka Matkava, Tornike Kakhoidze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Georges Shvelidze, Demur Tapladze, Amiran Shvangiradze, Aka Tabutsadze, Alexander Todua, Davit Niniashvili, Dachi Papunashvili, Luka Tsirekidze.
New Zealand XV: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Quinn Tupaea, 13 Dallas McLeod, 12 Riley Higgins, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (captain), 6 Caleb Delaney, 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Devan Flanders, 22 Noah Hotham, 23 Chay Fihaki.
