Rugby: ABs return for provincial sides

Rene Ranger is set to return for Northland this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

The bulk of the All Blacks squad have been made available to play ITM Cup matches over the coming weeks, before the All Blacks end of year tour to Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The All Blacks returned to New Zealand on Sunday following their 23-22 victory over Australia in the final match of the Tri Nations, with players spending the next few weeks at home before the 30-strong All Blacks squad for the end of year tour is announced on Sunday 17 October.

Seventeen players from the All Blacks squad will be available to play ITM Cup, if required by their provincial coaches, at various stages over the next few rounds.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: "Many of the players, especially those in the All Blacks starting XV, have had a big year with Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby and the Test season, while others haven't played as much rugby.

"So we are taking a sensible approach in managing their workload as we prepare for the end of year tour as well as the new Investec Super Rugby competition in 2011."

The upcoming ITM Cup rounds and matches (with players available for selection if required in brackets) are as follows:

Week 8
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Southland, Hamilton, Thurs 16 Sept.
Manawatu v Auckland (Benson Stanley), Palmerston North, Fri 17 Sept.
Taranaki v Canterbury (Colin Slade), New Plymouth, Sat 18 Sept.
Tasman v North Harbour (Anthony Boric), Nelson, Sat 18 Sept.
Otago v Northland (Rene Ranger), Dunedin, Sun 19 Sept.

Week 9
Southland v Auckland (John Afoa, Benson Stanley), Invercargill, Thurs 23 Sept.
Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade) v Wellington, Christchurch, Sat 25 Sept.
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Tasman, Hamilton, Sat 25 Sept.
North Harbour (Anthony Boric) v Manawatu, North Shore City, Sun 26 Sept.
Counties Manukau v Northland (Rene Ranger), Pukekohe, Sun 26 Sept.

Week 10
Auckland (John Afoa, Benson Stanley) v Hawke's Bay, Auckland, Fri 1 Oct.
Northland (Rene Ranger) v Waikato (Liam Messam), Whangarei, Sat 2 Oct.
Otago v Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade), Dunedin, Sat 2 Oct.
Manawatu (Aaron Cruden) v Tasman, Palmerston North, Sun 3 Oct.
Counties Manukau v North Harbour (Anthony Boric), Pukekohe, Sun 3 Oct.

Week 11
Hawke's Bay (Israel Dagg) v Northland (Rene Ranger), Napier, Thurs 7 Oct.
Waikato (Liam Messam) v Otago, Hamilton, Fri 8 Oct.
Taranaki v Manawatu (Aaron Cruden), New Plymouth, Sat 9 Oct.
Counties Manukau v Auckland (John Afoa, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley), Pukekohe, Sat 9 Oct.
Southland v Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Colin Slade), Invercargill, Sat 9 Oct.
North Harbour (Anthony Boric) v Wellington (Victor Vito), North Shore City, Sun 10 Oct.

Week 12
Manawatu (Aaron Cruden) v Waikato (Liam Messam), Palmerston North, Thurs 14 Oct.
Tasman (Ben Franks) v Northland (Rene Ranger), Nelson, Fri 15 Oct.
Bay of Plenty v Southland (Jimmy Cowan), Mt Maunganui, Sat 16 Oct.
Canterbury (Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Colin Slade, Brad Thorn) v Counties Manukau, Christchurch, Sat 16 Oct.
Wellington (Victor Vito) v Taranaki, Wellington, Sat 16 Oct.
Auckland (John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley) v Otago (Tom Donnelly), Auckland, Sun 17 Oct.
Hawke's Bay (Israel Dagg) v North Harbour (Anthony Boric, Tony Woodcock), Napier, Sun 17 Oct.

- NZHERALD ONLINE