All Blacks keen to keep Ruben Love momentum going against Munster
Ruben Love of New Zealand in action for an All Blacks XV side against Ireland A. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Try-scoring New Zealand debutant Ruben Love has been added to the All Blacks XV squad for the tour match against Munster in Limerick this Saturday.
The Hurricanes outside back came off the bench for his Test debut in Yokohama last Saturday and scored twice in a 64-19 victory over Japan but has been released by head coach Scott Robertson to face Munster at a sold-out Thomond Park rather than feature against England in the All Blacks’ opening game of their November tour to Europe at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
The tourists on Tuesday announced a rejigged All Blacks XV squad from which their head coach Clayton McMillan will select a side for the Munster showpiece, with Corey Kellow (Crusaders), Devan Flanders (Hurricanes), Caleb Delaney (Hurricanes) and Simon Parker (Chiefs) joining up to replace All Blacks call-ups Peter Lakai and Josh Lord and injured pair Emoni Narawa and Hoskins Sotutu.
Robertson said he wanted to give Love the chance of more game time against Munster this weekend, adding: “We are keen to keep the momentum going for Ruben, following his impressive All Blacks debut against Japan.
“This is one of the benefits of having both teams in the Northern Hemisphere at the same time; it creates more opportunities for a greater number of players to gain international experience and valuable game time.”
Six players on senior duty in Japan have also rejoined McMillan’s squad in Limerick.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (25 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty) George Bower (32 / Crusaders / Otago)* Caleb Delaney (24 / Hurricanes / Wellington)** George Dyer (24/ Chiefs / Waikato) Kurt Eklund (32 / Blues / Bay of Plenty) Devan Flanders (25 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)** Oliver Haig (22 / Highlanders / Otago)* Fabian Holland (21 / Highlanders / Otago)* Corey Kellow (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury)** Du’Plessis Kirifi (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington) Saula Ma’u (24 / Highlanders / Otago) Brodie McAlister (27 / Crusaders / Canterbury) Xavier Numia (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington) Simon Parker (24 / Chiefs / Northland)** Marcel Renata (30 / Blues / Auckland) Bradley Slater (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki)* Isaia Walker-Leawere (27 / Hurricanes / Hawke’s Bay)
Finlay Christie (29 / Blues / Tasman) Chay Fihaki (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury) Riley Higgins (22 / Hurricanes / Wellington) Noah Hotham (21 / Crusaders / Tasman) Josh Jacomb (23 / Chiefs / Taranaki) AJ Lam (26 / Blues / Auckland)* Ruben Love (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington) Dallas McLeod (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury) Kiniviliame Naholo (25 / Hurricanes / Taranaki) Harry Plummer (26 / Blues / Auckland)* Shaun Stevenson (27 / Chiefs / North Harbour) Quinn Tupaea (25 / Chiefs / Waikato)
*Travelled with All Blacks to Japan, re-joined All Blacks XV
**New All Blacks XV player named
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