New Zealand to head to Japan with 51-man squad

by Frank Nickson Monday 8 October 2018

Steve Hansen will take an extended squad to Japan later this month

©PA

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has revealed that he is planning to take an extended 51-man squad to Japan this month for the games against the host and Australia.

The World Champions will take on Australia in Yokohama on 27th October for the third and final Bledisloe Cup contest followed with a clash against Japan on 3rd November in Tokyo before they head for their European tour and Hansen wants as many players to acclimatize to the conditions with the World Cup set to be played next year at the same venue.

“We’ll take 32 players to Europe, and we’ll take 32 initially to Japan, then an extra 19 players will come over for the Japan week,” Hansen told TVNZ.

The All Blacks will conclude their November internationals with clashes against England, Ireland and Italy on 10th, 17th and 24th November respectively and it is reported that 22 out of the 51 players from Japan will head to Twickenham early for the preparation against Eddie Jones' side.