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New Zealand have gone for a combination of new and old. The All Blacks will open their Rugby Championship defense away to Argentina on July 08. The match will take place at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas. It will be Argentina’s first ever home match against New Zealand outside of Buenos Aires province.
New Zealand Head Coach Ian Foster has retained flanker Sam Cane as captain. Cane will have the support of fellow veterans Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, and Samuel Whitelock.
The roster contains five uncapped players. They are prop Tamaiti Williams, Tongan flanker Samipeni Finau, scrum-half Cameron Roigard, Dallas McLeod, Shaun Stevenson and Fijian winger Emoni Narawa. All have been selected on the back of their performances in Super Rugby. Indeed, every player on the roster is based in New Zealand. Foreign-based selections are forbidden.
Ten players were not considered due to injuries. They are Angus Ta’avao, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, David Havili, Joe Moody, George Bower, Patrick Tuipulotu, Quinn Tupaea, Sevu Reece and TJ Perenara.
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 – NEW ZEALAND ROSTER
HOOKER
Codie Taylor (Crusaders, 76 caps)
Dane Coles (Hurricanes, 84 caps)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs, 24 caps)
PROP
Ethan de Groot (Highlanders, 13 caps)
Fletcher Newell (Crusaders, 6 caps)
Nepo Laulala (Blues, 45 caps)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues, 50 caps)
Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders, uncapped)
Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes, 23 caps)
SECOND-ROW
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs, 100 caps)
Josh Lord (Chiefs, 2 caps)
Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders, 143 caps)
Scott Barrett (Crusaders, 58 caps)
Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs, 18 caps)
BACK-ROW
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, 70 caps)
Dalton Papali’i (Blues, 22)
Luke Jacobson (Chiefs, 12 caps)
Sam Cane (Chiefs, 86 caps) – Captain
Samipeni Finau (Chiefs, uncapped)
Shannon Frizell (Highlanders, 25 caps)
SCRUM-HALF
Aaron Smith (Highlanders, 114 caps)
Finlay Christie (Blues, 14 caps)
Cameron Roigard (Hurricanes, uncapped)
FLY HALF
Beauden Barrett (Blues, 112 caps)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 40 caps)
Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders, 44 caps)
CENTER
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs, 60 caps)
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes, 48 caps)
Rieko Ioane (Blues, 59 caps)
Braydon Ennor (Crusaders, 6 caps)
Dallas McLeod (Crusaders, uncapped)
BACK-THREE
Caleb Clarke (Blues, 15 caps)
Emoni Narawa (Chiefs, uncapped)
Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders, 2 caps)
Mark Telea (Blues, 2 caps)
Will Jordan (Crusaders, 21 caps)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 – NEW ZEALAND FIXTURES
July 08 – 
vs Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza (AR)
July 15 – vs 
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland (NZ)
July 29 – 
vs Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (AU)
