All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has all but confirmed the All Blacks are unlikely to take an apprentice on their end-of-year tour this year.
The All Blacks will face Australia in Brisbane in the dead-rubber third Bledisloe Cup Test before heading to Europe to face the Barbarians, France, French XV, Scotland and Wales on their Northern Tour in November and 37-players will be making the trip.
In the past, the All Blacks have taken an apprentice including the likes of Aride Savea (2013) and Joride Barrett (2016) and both players benefited from the trip immensely.
"Probably not this time," Hansen replied when asked about adopting an apprentice this year.
"Thirty-seven [team slots] should allow us to have enough people there getting educated."
"There probably won't be a need for an apprentice this time."
Hansen also confirmed the squad for the tour is practically finalised.
"Most of those people are pencilled in," said Hansen'
"Things that might change that, injuries, we may have to look at a couple of different combinations.
"The last spots are always difficult in that you are juggling and they are always open to change if we get a mind-boggling inspirational thought late in the process."
Hansen also confirmed that Tawera Kerr-Barlow will be in the squad despite departing for France to play for La Rochelle at the end of the season.
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