Five uncapped players in extended All Blacks squad

Wellington Hurricanes outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder and Canterbury Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor were two of the biggest surprises in Steve Hansen’s extended All Blacks squad named on Sunday.

Milner-Skudder and Taylor were joined by Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst, Highlanders fly-half Lima Sopoaga and team-mate Waisake Naholo as the five uncapped players in the 41-man squad as they begin their final preparations for their World Cup defence.

Hansen named the extended squad as the All Blacks face Samoa on July 8, just four days after the Super Rugby final, meaning the coach may not be able to rely on his full squad.

New Zealand could conceivably have two teams in that final, with the Otago Highlanders and Wellington Hurricanes playing semi-finals against Australian opposition next Saturday.

“We have selected a large squad of 41 players, partly through necessity, with two New Zealand teams still involved in the Super Rugby competition,” Hansen said.

“But, more importantly, it also gives us the chance to work with some athletes we haven’t worked with before and see how they cope at test level.

“This will allow us to make better decisions when it comes to selecting our World Cup team in August.”