Scrum-half Andy Ellis dons All Blacks jersey again for Samoa test
Scrum-half Andy Ellis will return to test rugby almost four years after he last played for the All Blacks, while four others are in line to make their debuts against Samoa in Apia on Wednesday.
Scrum-half Andy Ellis will return to test rugby almost four years after he last played for the All Blacks, while four others are in line to make their debuts against Samoa in Apia on Wednesday.
Ellis’ last act in a New Zealand jersey was to kick the ball out from a penalty to end the 2011 World Cup final as the All Blacks won the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time with an 8-7 victory over France at Eden Park.
It’s exciting for the group to be playing this first All Blacks test in Samoa and we know it’s going to be a special occasion
The 31-year-old Ellis was originally brought in as cover for Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who were all named in the original 41-man squad picked by coach Steve Hansen.
Smith and Perenara miss out, however, as they were both involved in the Super Rugby final on Saturday, won 21-14 by Smith’s Highlanders over Perenara’s Hurricanes.
Kerr-Barlow is still recovering from a serious knee injury and has been released to play for the Maori All Blacks against Fiji in Suva on July 11.
A total of 17 players from Hansen’s original squad are unavailable for the match in Apia because of their involvement in the Super Rugby final.