Five uncapped players for All Blacks tour

All Black selectors have included five uncapped players in a 36-man squad for the four-Test tour of Japan and Europe.

New Zealand All Blacks players perform the haka.

Five uncapped players have been picked for the All Blacks' rugby tour of Japan and Europe. (AAP)

Five uncapped players have been picked in a 36-man squad for the All Blacks' rugby tour of Japan and Europe.

They include the Crusaders' trio of prop Joe Moody, lock Dominic Bird and loose forward Luke Whitelock, who joins 48-cap brother Sam in the tour party.

Also selected are Blues winger Frank Halai and Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara, who was named in this year's Rugby Championship squad but had to pull out through injury.

Skipper Richie McCaw, who was a late withdrawal from the Bledisloe Cup third Test victory over Australia on Saturday night because of a tight calf, is back to lead the side.

Two vice-captains have been named in No.8 Kieran Read and five-eighth Dan Carter, who is returning from a shoulder injury suffered against South Africa in mid-September.

One player unavailable because of a injury is Crusaders flanker Matt Todd with a chest problem.

The All Blacks' selectors also announced that an "apprentice" player, Hurricanes and Wellington loose forward Ardie Savea, would accompany the squad.

Savea, 20, is the brother of All Blacks winger Julian.

Coach Steve Hansen says the move is a continuation of the scheme started this year with up-and-coming hookers being brought in to get a taste of the All Blacks' environment.

The squad will assemble in Auckland on Friday for a two-day camp.

The All Blacks play Japan on November 2, followed by Tests on successive weekends against France, England and Ireland.

A group of 27 players, to be named after the camp, will head to Tokyo to prepare for the opening Test, while the nine others will travel to Paris.

All Blacks squad:

Forwards - Dane Coles, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Tony Woodcock, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam, Kieran Read (vc), Luke Whitelock.

Backs - Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter (vc), Aaron Cruden, Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty, Ma'a Nonu, Francis Saili, Israel Dagg, Frank Halai, Cory Jane, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.


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Source: AAP


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