There were always going to be some top players left out when Steve Hansen cut his squad to 31
The New Zealand head coach has named his panel for the World Cup and Waisake Naholo’s miraculous recovery from a broken leg sees him join the party ahead of some huge names.
Full-back Israel Dagg and wing Cory Jane, who both started when the All Blacks won the World Cup final four years ago and have more than 100 Tests between them, are omitted, while Charles Piutau, who is set to join Ulster next summer, can also count himself unlucky.
Instead, New Zealand will be able to call on the exciting Nehe Milner-Skudder and Naholo, whose broke his leg on his Test debut against Argentina on July 17 and was initally ruled out of the tournament.
But the 24-year-old returned to his home village in Fiji and after some traditional treatments there has been passed fit for the squad, with the expectation that he will be available for the All Blacks’ third pool match against Georgia on October 3.
Record Test cap holder Richie McCaw leads the favourites’ challenge.
All Blacks name 31-man squad for RWC. No place for Cory Jane or Israel Dagg but Waisake Naholo is in. McCaw captain pic.twitter.com/46cbXKMl29
— Rugby World (@Rugbyworldmag) August 30, 2015
