Cape Town - All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has revealed that he will take a 51-man squad to Japan ahead of their end-of-year tour to Europe.
Hansen said an extended squad of players will go to Yokohama where the world champions will face Australia in their third and final Bledisloe Cup Test on October 27.
The All Blacks will then take on Japan in Tokyo on November 3 before starting their European tour against England at Twickenham on November 10. New Zealand will also play Tests against Ireland and Italy.
"We'll take 32 players to Europe, and we'll take 32 initially to Japan, then an extra 19 players will come over for the Japan week," Hansen told TVNZ.
While in Japan, the All Blacks plan to fly 22 players early to London to prepare for the Test against England.