Brad Shields‘ decision to opt for an England jersey cost him a “probable” slot in the All Blacks, coach Steve Hansen said Sunday as two new loose forwards were selected for the New Zealand side.
Hurricanes skipper Shields, whose parents are English, cited constantly being overlooked for the All Blacks as a factor when he switched allegiance to England and won selection for their June tour of South Africa.
But Hansen, who named his squad Sunday to play France next month, said Shields would “probably” have been selected had he been available.
Injuries and form forced Hansen to select four inexperienced loose forwards – newcomers Jordan Taufua and Shannon Frizell along with Vaea Fifita and Luke Whitelock who have seven Tests between them.
On the plane to South Africa after all ✈️
— TheRugbyPaper (@TheRugbyPaper) May 19, 2018
New Zealand are hypocrites for their fuss over Brad Shieldshttps://t.co/3rR5N6ReHd @RugbyEng @RugbyNZ_ pic.twitter.com/Zr7eEqTee8
“It is obviously one of those positions … he (Shields) probably would have made this team this year,” Hansen told Radio Newstalk ZB.
“I wish him all the best. He wants to play Test rugby, he obviously didn’t see a future here.”
With the retirement of Jerome Kaino and injuries to Kieran Read and Liam Squire, Hansen said filling the six and eight jerseys had been a focus for the selectors.
“That’s the thing about the All Blacks – you’ve got to stay resilient because you are always up against someone else as good if not a little better.
“If you are not prepared to wait for the opportunity and keep working at it you are not going to get it.”
Eddie Jones will like this from Hurricanes skipper Brad Shields.
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) May 11, 2018
England breakdown was terrible during Six Nations. No 1 fix ahead of series against Springboks.
Here he hits, over the ball and penalty #BLUvHUR #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/bDuzk7iz9k
The 33-man squad included three new faces with scrum-half Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi joining Taufua and Frizell.
Another three players – prop Tim Perry and backs Richie Mo’unga and Jack Goodhue – were involved with the All Blacks on last year’s northern tour but have yet to make their Test debuts.
The 95-Test lock Sam Whitelock will captain the side in the absence of Read who is not expected to start playing again until July following surgery on his spine at the end of last season.
Shields, meanwhile, will continue to live in New Zealand and play Super Rugby for the Hurricanes until the end of the season when he will move to England to join Wasps.
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
(Age, Super Rugby team/ Mitre Cup team, caps)
Forwards:
Hookers
Nathan Harris (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 11)
Codie Taylor (27, Crusaders / Canterbury, 29)
Props
Owen Franks (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 95)
Joe Moody (29, Crusaders /Canterbury, 31)
Tim Perry (29, Crusaders / Tasman, uncapped)
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Ofa Tuungafasi (26, Blues / Auckland, 14)
Locks
Scott Barrett (24, Crusaders / Taranaki, 16)
Brodie Retallick (26, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 68)
Samuel Whitelock (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 96) – Captain
Rugby: Relentless physicality paves way for new boys Jordan Taufua and Shannon Frizell https://t.co/M71ABjQnQU via @NZHeraldRugby pic.twitter.com/rcC5quP34i
— SARugbyChick (@SARugbyChick) May 20, 2018
Loose Forwards
Sam Cane (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 53) – Vice-captain
Vaea Fifita (25, Hurricanes / Wellington, 5)
Shannon Frizell (24, Highlanders / Tasman, uncapped)
Ardie Savea (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 22)
Liam Squire (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 15)
Jordan Taufua (26, Crusaders / Tasman, uncapped)
Luke Whitelock (27, Highlanders / Canterbury, 2)
Backs:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 42)
Aaron Smith (29, Highlanders / Manawatu, 71)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (23, Chiefs / Taranaki, uncapped)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (27, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 62)
Damian McKenzie (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 12)
Richie Mo’unga (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, uncapped)
Wow! 5 @AllBlacks just named from #Taranaki. Huge congrats to @beaudenbarrett Jordie Barrett Scott Barrett @wnaholo and especially Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi our newest All Black. Great work! #strongfor18 pic.twitter.com/9zU47hBCYc
— Taranaki Rugby (@TaranakiRugby) May 19, 2018
Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (29, Crusaders / Canterbury, 32)
Jack Goodhue (22, Crusaders / Northland, uncapped)
Ngani Laumape (25, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 4)
Anton Lienert-Brown (23, Chiefs / Waikato, 22)
Sonny Bill Williams (32, Blues / Counties Manukau, 46)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (21, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 2)
Rieko Ioane (21, Blues / Auckland, 13)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (27, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 11)
Waisake Naholo (27, Highlanders /Taranaki, 18)
Ben Smith (30, Highlanders /Otago, 64) – Vice-captain
🎥 What's it like to be named in the All Blacks? Find out from Jordan Taufua, Codie Taylor and Jack Goodhue at the All Blacks squad naming today!
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) May 20, 2018
FULL SQUAD: https://t.co/Mf0OjKk94D#SteinlagerSeries 🇳🇿🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/LPXFg8wrPs
