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14 All Blacks released to play NPC quarter-finals
By Ben Smith
14 All Blacks have been released from the squad to play in this weekend's NPC quarter-finals, including halfback TJ Perenara who will play for the Wellington Lions against Counties.
The quarter-final will give Perenara at least one more home game at Sky Stadium before heading to Japan at the conclusion of the All Blacks end of year tour.
Three other All Blacks, Ruben Love, Asafo Aumua and Billy Proctor will join Perenara for the top-seeded Lions do-or-die clash.
Perenara will go head-to-head with Hurricanes teammate Cam Roigard, who was named to return in the All Blacks squad this week, for an intriguing battle of the No 9s.
In the Hawke's Bay versus Bay of Plenty quarter-final, only one All Black will feature in Pasilio Tosi.
Taranaki versus Waikato will see Stephen Perofeta, Luke Jacobson, and Samipeni Finau line up in New Plymouth.
In Sunday's battle between the two Crusaders' feeder provinces, five All Blacks will feature for Tasman and Canterbury.
Ethan Blackadder and David Havili will turn out for the Mako, while George Bell, Fletcher Newell and Sam Darry will play for Canterbury.
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Latest Comments
It's ridiculously good watching Bristol atm. That said, I still have reservations about how Lam's approach will hold up once the weather starts to influence games through the coming winter months. I can see Bath and Sarries grinding wins out and maybe pulling away by keeping things tight in wet conditions when Bristol may start to struggle to hold onto the ball.
Interesting that Marcus Smith declined a big salary to join Bristol when you'd think Bristol's style would suit Marcus down to a T. I'm wondering if Bristol are too loose and maybe incompatible with Borthwick's designs for how he wants England to play, especially at 10, which may have influenced Marcus' decision.
Agree that it was disappointing to see Bristol perform so poorly against La Rochelle and Leinster. Weather and loss of McGinty played their part, but I don't think it's insurmountable that Bristol can one day start challenging the top European sides with their brand of open, expansive, running rugby.
Go to commentsI can't see them getting to the final of the Champons Cup.
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