Steve Hansen teases at 'two or three' bolters for the All Blacks World Cup squad

April 26, 2019
1824
Ultimate Rugby

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has admitted "two of three" bolters could force their way into the All Blacks squad in time for the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Blues midfielder Ma'a Nonu has been hyped up for a test comeback after an outstanding return to Super Rugby having last pulled on the All Blacks jersey during the 2015 World Cup final against the Wallabies but Hansen would not name any of the candidates the national selectors had in mind.

The 2019 Super Rugby season has passed the halfway point and Hansen said there were some players who have emerged in the selection picture.

"I'm not going to mention names and put pressure on them but there have certainly been some people out there," Hansen told Radio Sport. "[They] have also been quite obvious to most people.

"It's been good to see and now that we're getting to the business part of the season it'll be interesting to see if they can maintain that high level of performance that we've been getting from them."

Among the uncapped rookies shining for their Super sides have been Blues flanker Tom Robinson and Crusaders fullback Will Jordan.

"There are a few guys that are established All Blacks that are starting to come into some good form and a lot of young guys starting to put there hands up," Hansen told Radio Sport.

"When the time comes to pick the side we'll have plenty of candidates. Everyone is a chance, we'll say no to nobody."