Scott Robertson has named plenty of players from his former Crusaders franchise. Photo: Photosport
Analysis - The attrition rate of this test season is evident, and we're only three tests in.
Already, Scott Robertson has had to call in two players who weren't in his initial squad for the year, so it makes the size of this latest refresh seem about right.
Some 36 players are on the books to contest the next six games, starting with Argentina in Wellington on 10 August.
Here's some talking points about the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad for 2024:
Does this actually mean much at all?
Given the last squad was named, then rolled out with several extra players anyway, it's tempting to think not.
Noah Hotham and Sam Darry ended up debuting against Fiji despite not even being one of those extra players, but at least it gives us an idea of where Robertson is heading with all this.
Finlay Christie has been cut from the Rugby Championship squad. Photo: Photosport
Finlay gone
One big casualty is Finlay Christie, who has gone from starting the second test against England at Eden Park to being cut altogether.
It just goes to show how some marginal things aren't in players' control: had TJ Perenara not got hurt, Christie would've likely started against Fiji with Cortez Ratima as his backup and nothing would've changed in the halfback order.
Instead, Ratima starting - and subsequently being knocked out of - the San Diego game meant Hotham could come on and impress, leading to the situation we have now.
Noah Hotham passes during the San Diego test against Fiji. Photo: Photosport
Ruben Love in, Will Jordan back
No real surprise here, given Love's been with the squad the whole time, but the real intrigue is how both men will fit into a very crowded outside-back picture.
Clearly, this is a sign Jordan is still a test wing, rather than a fullback, because the number 15 or 23 jersey are the only ones Love will wear.
It's Jordan's second return from a lengthy lay-off, but last time he came back and very much picked up where he left off in terms of try scoring.
Ruben Love in action against the Blues in March. Photo: Hagen Hopkins
Unlucky for Narawa
That's rough on Emoni Narawa, though. The Chiefs winger got just 20 minutes in a test the All Blacks had very much already won against Fiji, and the ball barely made it to him in that whole time.
Sam Cane back
Again, not the hugest surprise given that Cane was an informal part of the initial squad.
The biggest thing about the former captain though is that he's barely played any rugby this year, having only got two club games since he suffered a back injury and had to undergo surgery in January - not to mention exactly where he fits in the talented loose forward group.
Sam Cane is back as part of the extended All Blacks squad. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Josh Lord's role
Another player who could play a big role is the 2.03m Lord, with Scott Barrett out at least for the first test.
Darry was very good in his shift against Fiji, but we're going to need to see some more out of him at test level to get a good assessment. Although injury-prone, at least Lord has that experience.
The Beauden conundrum
Love's ascent also raises the question about what happens with Stephen Perofeta, who also didn't put a foot wrong in his two starts.
Beauden Barrett's performance off the bench at Eden Park was a compelling case for him to start, to go with the 124 tests worth of case anyway, so just what sort of order they come out in against Argentina will be interesting.
10 Crusaders
It's no surprise that Robertson has been loyal to his boys, but the fact is there are now more players from the worst-performed Super Rugby Pacific side than any of the others.
David Havili should be feeling pretty lucky; his Crusaders campaign was hardly anything to brag about and he even had an ill-fated game at first five at Robertson's insistence. Like most of the other games they played this year, it ended up in defeat.
The Waratahs celebrate a try against the Crusaders, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks 2024 Rugby Championship draw
All Blacks v Pumas
Kick-off: 7.05pm, Saturday 10 August (all times NZT)
Sky Stadium, Wellington
All Blacks v Pumas
Kick-off: 7.05pm, Saturday 17 August
Eden Park, Auckland
Springboks v All Blacks
Kick-off: 3am, Sunday 1 September
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Springboks v All Blacks
Kick-off: 3am, Sunday 8 September
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies v All Blacks
Kick-off: 5.45pm, Saturday 21 September
Accor Stadium, Sydney
All Blacks v Wallabies
Kick-off: 7.05pm, Saturday 28 September
Sky Stadium, Wellington
All Blacks 2024 Rugby Championship squad
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell
Props: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Fletcher Newell, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Tamaiti Williams
Locks: Scott Barrett (captain), Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i, Sam Darry
Loose forwards: Ardie Savea (vice captain), Luke Jacobson, Ethan Blackadder, Wallace Sititi, Samipeni Finau, Dalton Papali'i, Sam Cane
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham
First five eighths: Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett
Midfield: Jordie Barrett (vice captain), Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, David Havili
Outside backs: Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Stephen Perofeta, Ruben Love
