New Zealand include Patrick Osborne and Tawera Kerr-Barlow in Rugby Championship squad
Sunday 2 August 2015 09:09, UK
Uncapped winger Patrick Osborne has been called into the extended New Zealand squad for Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia in Sydney and the second Test against the Wallabies in Auckland the following week.
There is also a recall for scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who missed the Super Rugby season because of a knee injury, in place of the experienced Andy Ellis.
Centre Ma'a Nonu has been included in the squad despite a shoulder injury suffered in last week's 27-20 victory over South Africa, although he remains a doubt for next weekend’s match at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
"We're not going to risk him if he's not right. There's a big season ahead, and we've got plenty of cover there so we'll see how it goes," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.
Fly-half Dan Carter and centre Sonny Bill Williams return after being rested for the trip to South Africa, while Charlie Faumuina is among seven props named in the squad as he continues his recovery from neck surgery.
Osborne comes in to provide cover for Cory Jane, who has an ankle injury, and his Otago Highlanders team-mate Waisake Naholo, who fractured his leg on his Test debut against Argentina last month and has been all but ruled out of the World Cup.
"With Waisake out three months and Cory still struggling with his injury, we just wanted to make sure we had someone else that has been in the environment," said Hansen.
Wellington Hurricanes winger Nehe Milner-Skudder looks more likely to make his Test debut in one of the two matches against the Wallabies after recovering from a rib injury suffered in the Super Rugby final.
The 41-man squad will be reduced to 31 for the trip across the Tasman Sea on Wednesday for the match, which also doubles as the first of two Tests for the Bledisloe Cup.
Live Rugby Championship
Forwards: Dane Coles, Hika Elliot, Keven Mealamu, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Tony Woodcock, James Broadhurst, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Liam Messam, Matt Todd, Kieran Read, Victor Vito.
Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith, Patrick Osborne.
Watch Australia v New Zealand live on Sky Sports 3 from 10.30am on Saturday.
