Christchurch-born Stowers-Smith made 21 appearances, 18 off the bench. Being chosen is especially poignant for the St Bede’s College product, who follows in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Canterbury legend Pat Smith (Kiwi No 301), whose 36 appearances for the Kiwis from 1947-1949 included 10 tests, all as captain.
After missing the 22-24 World Cup-opening loss to the Kangaroos last Thursday, Nicoll-Klokstad has been brought into the side in the centres, while four-time premiership-winning Penrith back rower Scott Sorensen is in the second row after last playing for the Kiwis against Papua New Guinea in the 2024 Pacific Championships.
Keano Kini will play at fullback for the Kiwis Photo / Photosport
In other switches, the injured Kalyn Ponga is replaced at fullback by Keano Kini, Nicoll-Klokstad is in for Dane Gagai, Joseph Tapine is switched from loose forward to prop for Moses Leota, Sorensen and Xavier Willison start in the second row for regulars Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora and Erin Clark is named in the No 13 jersey.
Overall, it is a smart move by the coach. It gives others in the squad a chance to impress and keeps morale high by getting them involved in the relatively compact tournament. The decision also factors in the effects of the clash against the Kangaroos and the need for some players to recover from that match after their club seasons.
It’s also, you would presume, the last opportunity for Jones to experiment before he selects his preferred 17 for the final pool match against Fiji on October 31, a week out from an expected appearance in the semi-finals.
It means captain James Fisher-Harris and hooker Jeremy Marshall-King are the only players remaining from the starting pack against Australia.
The six-man bench features one player named last week – utility Te Maire Martin – with Laban and Stowers-Smith joined by Leo Thompson, whose last test was in 2024, and Papali’i and Nikora.
Filling out the extended bench are Gagai, Naufahu Whyte and Leota while all six Warriors in the squad have been selected – Fisher-Harris, Nicoll-Klokstad, Clark, Martin, Laban and Stowers-Smith.
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.