Brodie Retallick (L), Sam Whitelock and Sam Cane. Photo: photosport
There are several All Blacks heading to their third World Cup where they will try to win back the title they lost four years ago.
The 33 man squad for this year's Rugby World Cup was named on Monday night in Napier and coach Ian Foster sprung no surprises in his selections with just one player picked who wasn't in the Rugby Championship squad.
The All Blacks received plenty of cheers from the Hawke's Bay crowd at Pettigrew Arena, but the biggest was reserved for veteran lock Brodie Retallick, the only player from the province selected for the World Cup.
Brodie Retallick at the World Cup squad naming in Hawkes Bay. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"It's awesome it's been a number of years since the All Blacks have been in Hawke's Bay and everyone knows they've had a tough time with the floods and the cyclone. So it's cool to be able to spend the week here and get out in to the community and give something back."
Retallick came off with a knee injury in the win over the Wallabies in Dunedin last weekend and coach Ian Foster said he will likely miss the All Blacks warm-up game against South Africa at Twickenham on 26 August and their opening World Cup match against hosts France in Paris on 9 September.
"Don't know the exact timetable. Pretty unlikely he'll be available for the first pool game, so maybe round two.
"But we're really confident in him, he comes back well from injuries, he's been with us regularly right through for many years and this season. So it's a no brainer for us."
Injured prop Joe Moody has been left out but mid-fielder David Havili returns to the squad despite not having played international rugby this year due to a hamstring injury.
Foster said Havili, who returned to NPC rugby last weekend, has earned his ticket to France.
"David had a lot of time with us last year and we have a lot of faith in how he plays. We like his skillset and just because he hasn't been able to play with us during the Rugby Championship campaign, we've still been monitoring him very closely."
David Havili. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Havili takes the place of fellow Crusaders midfielder Braydon Ennor, who also suffered a knee injury against the Wallabies.
Havili is one of 17 players going to their first World Cup as is halfback Cam Roigard, who only made his Hurricanes debut this season and his All Blacks debut a few weeks ago.
"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. If you'd told me a year ago I'd be here in a year's time I wouldn't have believed you, but I've loved every moment.
text) Photo: Raghavan Venugopal
All Blacks Cam Roigard and his father Dave with the Bledisloe Cup.
And the 22-year-old had a special thank you for his parents, Dave and Lisa, who he said will now be scrambling to get tickets to France.
"It's hard to put into words. It's still sinking in but it might mean more for them than me," Roigard joked.
"Seeing the support they've had for me, right from day one, has been amazing. So while this is my All Blacks dream this is also there's so it's pretty cool to make them proud."
Lock Sam Whitelock is the only player going to his fourth World Cup but there are six who are heading to their third tournament, including hooker Dane Coles and captain Sam Cane.
Sam Cane with fans at the All Blacks RWC squad naming at Pettigrew Arena, Hawkes Bay. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
All three were involved in the 2019 semi-final loss to England and Cane said the defeat still stings and has put a fire in his belly.
"Yeah I think so, mate. It was one of the toughest times I've been involved as an All Black that World Cup.
"What hurt the most was not being able to perform when it really counted."
And Coles says they must learn from the disappointment in Japan.
"We've got to look at that England week and see if we can take some things out of it to make sure it doesn't happen again.
"It sits in you and it hurts but you've got to use it as motivation and in the right way and don't dwell on it too much because if you live in the past you'll get stuck."
Ian Foster is confident about the All Blacks World Cup chances. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Coach Ian Foster is adamant the All Blacks of 2023 won't repeat the mistakes of four years ago and he believes they'll be genuine title contenders in France.
"We tried to make no excuses for the performances in the first four tests of the year.
"We categorically said that each test was vital for us, because we wanted to simulate the mental pressure that comes with World Cups where you have to win back to back to back games.
"So from that perspective we're feeling like we're in a good place and we're going to France with a lot of confidence."
Loose forward Samipeni Finau missed out on a place in the squad despite impressing Foster on debut last week in Dunedin but he, halfback Brad Weber and uncapped hooker George Bell will travel as injury cover for the game against the Springboks at the end of the month, with with the All Blacks kicking off their World Cup campaign against France two weeks later.
-RNZ
