All Blacks

Richie Mo'unga, who retired with a sore shoulder in the second half of the All Blacks' 36-0 win over the Wallabies on August 17, has not been asked to play against the physical Tongans so close to the World Cup in Japan.

The absence of Mo'unga, who started the previous three tests at first-five, has resulted in the experienced Barrett shifting back to No 10 - where he has spent much of his test career - from fullback.

With just two Test caps off the bench to his name, the Chiefs prop was one of the big winners when the New Zealand squad was named last week for the looming World Cup.

Moli made his All Blacks debut in their Rugby Championship opener in Argentina in July but after being left out for the decisive win in the Bledisloe Cup decider, looked far from a dead-cert to go to Japan.

But the selectors showed their faith in the 24-year-old loosehead, stamping his ticket to the tournament and also setting him up for what could be a special first Test on New Zealand soil.

Ioane missed out on selection for the Rugby World Cup with coach Steve Hansen opting for just two first-fives in his squad of 31, but Mo'unga's shoulder injury sustained in the All Blacks' Bledisloe win at Eden Park last month will keep him on the sideline this weekend.

The injury has seen the All Blacks call in Ioane who was named in the wider squad earlier this year.

The 108-test, dual World Cup-winning veteran was the biggest name left out of Steve Hansen’s 31-man squad, which was announced at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday.

Hansen and his fellow selectors – Ian Foster and Grant Fox – have instead opted for the likes of Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Angus Ta’avao, who they believe present a bigger ball-carrying threat than Franks.

Hansen congratulated the players named in the squad and offered his commiseration's to those who missed out.

"Over the last couple of months we've spent a lot of time building our game, working on the individual skill sets we want and as selectors, taking the time to get really clear we wanted to put together from a selection point of view, for this team.

Reece had an impressive season where he was the leading try scorer in Super Rugby for the Crusaders and also produced a scintillating performance against the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup match.

Coach Steve Hansen has also selected stars such as the Barrett brothers, Beauden, Jordie and Scott, Kieran Read, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Tj Perenara, Sam Cane, Dane Coles and Reiko Ioane.

Hansen has also included Brodie Retallick and Ryan Crotty who had suffered injuries earlier in the season.

Crotty fractured his thumb in the Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes in June.

At the time he was given a time frame of eight weeks for recovery.

An All Blacks statement says Crotty will be available for Canterbury's Mitre 10 Cup match against Southland in Christchurch on Saturday.... nine weeks after sustaining the injury.

The announcement is also likely to result in him being confirmed in the All Blacks' World Cup squad which is announced tomorrow.

The 22-year-old flew back home to Nadi last night to celebrate his achievement so far with his parents and siblings.

Photos were posted up on social media showing the Reece family home decorated with All Blacks and Crusaders colours to celebrate.

Sevu was accorded a traditional Fijian welcome by his family.

On Saturday night, he silenced critics of his selection in the team that took on the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup by scoring a try.

It was Sevu’s first try in his first test match in the 36-0 win against Australia.

Williams made a devastating contribution to New Zealand's 36-0 trouncing of Australia's Bledisloe Cup hopes at Eden Park on Saturday, scoring one try after missing the last two tests.

Kerevi was one of the defenders he minced on his charge for the try line. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will have to pause for thought before he starts crossing out names on New Zealand's World Cup squad list.

New Zealand bounced back from a record defeat in game one at Perth with a resounding 36-0 victory over the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday night.

A number of players shone for the All Blacks at Eden Park and Hansen believed that could be viewed in two ways.

"A few people really put their hand up last night and where we had question marks, we no longer have question marks," he said on Sunday.

"In other ways, it makes it a bit tougher, too.