The Premium Debate: Rugby World Cup 2023 - have Ian Foster’s All Blacks got what it takes?

Today's live Premium panel debate begins at midday. Photo / Photosport

The All Blacks’ international season is fast approaching as Ian Foster’s squad prepare their assault on the Rugby World Cup in France.

NZ Herald editor-at-large Shayne Currie is taking the rugby conversation to the next level today with a panel of expert guests. On the panel, Shayne will be joined by the Herald’s rugby experts Liam Napier and Gregor Paul, and Black Ferns Sevens star Michaela Blyde.

The panel will discuss prospects for the June internationals, and the big questions – who will win the RWC and how will the All Blacks go?

Earlier today it was revealed that Anton Lienert-Brown will miss the first two All Blacks tests of the year after being suspended for his dangerous tackle in the Super Rugby final.

The Sanzaar foul play review committee handed Lienert-Brown a three-week suspension on Tuesday for his tackle on Crusaders wing Dallas McLeod in Saturday’s Super Rugby final in Hamilton.

Lienert-Brown was fortunate to escape with a yellow card at the time, with Sanzaar later determining the incident met the red card threshold. McLeod eventually left the field and failed his HIA as a result of the head clash.

At this stage Lienert-Brown is suspended through to July 29 which rules him out of the All Blacks tests against Argentina in Mendoza, the Springboks at Mt Smart Stadium and the opening Bledisloe Cup assignment at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.