All Blacks team to play Portugal

The following 22 players have been selected to play Portugal on Saturday in Lyon in the All Blacks second match of the Rugby World Cup:

Mils Muliaina
Isaia Toeava
Conrad Smith
Aaron Mauger
Joe Rokocoko
Nick Evans
Brendon Leonard
Sione Lauaki
Chris Masoe
Jerry Collins (captain)
Ali Williams
Chris Jack
Greg Somerville
Andrew Hore
Neemia Tialata

Reserves:

Anton Oliver
Tony Woodcock
Carl Hayman
Rodney So’oialo
Keven Mealamu
Andy Ellis
Leon MacDonald


“We wanted to give every member of the squad a run during these first two pool matches and that’s been the major consideration in naming this team,” Coach Graham Henry said.

“We have also talked about raising our standards from week to week and that’s the challenge for this Saturday. We want to find the mental strength to play better for longer than we did against Italy.”

Of the 30 man squad, locks Keith Robinson and Reuben Thorne were not considered for selection due to injury which means Keven Mealamu covers loose forward from the bench.