All Blacks name squad for Rugby Championship opener

The All Blacks have named their travelling squad for the Rugby Championship / Bledisloe Cup opening match this weekend in Sydney.

Prop Kane Hames and loose forward Matt Todd will travel with the squad as injury cover for Joe Moody and Sam Cane respectively.

With only 32 players travelling to Sydney, lock Luke Romano and loose forward Elliot Dixon will stay in New Zealand, with Romano available to play for Canterbury in the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Damian McKenzie, who has also been assembled with the All Blacks in camp, will also return to his Mitre 10 Cup team.

All Blacks squad for Sydney Test week

Forwards:

Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Kane Hames, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Matt Todd.

Backs:

Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Moala, Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea and Ben Smith.