Pledger, Casey miss out on ABs XV selection

Dylan Pledger. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

There is no room for rising Otago players Dylan Pledger or Lucas Casey in the All Blacks XV.

New coach Jamie Joseph today named a 30-strong squad for a three-game tour.

Pledger has been the breakthrough star of the NPC but All Blacks XV selectors have gone for Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava, Kyle Preston and Xavier Roe as options behind the scrum.

Joseph said Pledger's time would come but he had had a massive year, including trips to South Africa and Italy with the New Zealand under-20 team.

Lucas Casey. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Casey has also been a revelation but a deep All Blacks XV loose forward group features Highlanders Sean Withy and TK Howden, Kaylum Boshier, Devan Flanders, Dalton Papali'i and Christian Lio-Willie, the only Otago player selected.

Young hooker Jack Taylor and outside backs Caleb Tangitau and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens were the other Highlanders named.

The All Blacks XV will play two matches in England, against the Barbarians and England A, and a third match against Uruguay.

All Blacks XV players will be available for the NPC semifinals and the final, with non-finalists assembling on October 24 before heading to England.

• More in tomorrow's Otago Daily Times