WELLINGTON — Composition of New Zealand’s squad for their quest for a third successive Rugby World Cup title will be the focus on Tuesday when All Blacks coach Steve Hansen names an extended 41-man team for the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship. Hansen, entering his last four months with a team he has been part of since 2004, has already said that his final 31-man team for the World Cup in Japan will come from the players he names for the Rugby Championship. Few, if any, players of the Canterbury Crusaders, who face the Jaguares in the Super Rugby final in Christchurch on Saturday, are expected to travel to face the Pumas. As many as six players, who are in contention for the Rugby Championship, will likely vie for just one place in the World Cup squad’s back three, posing questions for Hansen to answer. The only issue with the pack is the loose forwards mix with Vaea Fifita, Shannon Frizell, Jackson Hemopo and Akira Ioane likely to be contesting for one spot in the final squad.

Source: National Post July 01, 2019 06:11 UTC