Young utility back Leicester Fainga’anuku and All Blacks scrum half Brad Weber have been brought into the All Blacks XV squad for the Killik Cup on Sunday 13 November, tickets available now.
Weber joined the All Blacks ahead of their victory over Wales and came off the bench to play for the visitors – he is now rotating with TJ Perenara to join the All Blacks XV for the Barbarians clash.
Head Coach Ian Foster said of the All Blacks XC win over Ireland ‘A’: “It was a different game probably to what we expected.
“We expected a lot tougher, more defence-oriented game up there but it turned into quite an open game so we had to judge everyone’s performances based on that. It was good for them to get a hit-out.
“We’re just utilising that programme as a chance to, like I said at the time we released them, get another game in the midfield…Leicester obviously missed the Japan game so it’s a chance for him to go and get some rugby this week then he’ll come back and join us.”
Shaun Stevenson scored two tries as the All Blacks XV comfortably beat Ireland ‘A’ 47-19 in an entertaining match at the RDS on Friday.
It was a result that saw the tourists cross seven times as Brodie McAlister, Ruben Love, Braydon Ennor, AJ Lam and Damian McKenzie – who will play for the Barbarians against Harlequins and Bath – also scored.
McKenzie added six conversions as Leon MacDonald’s men showed their class in possession in Dublin, with Ireland ‘A’ struggling with the visitors.