At last, the early skirmishes are almost over, with SH rugby dominance part one to be decided this weekend when  the Waratahs take on the Crusaders for the provincial part of the equation.  That though, is just the appetiser, the pre ball drinks, the teaser before the real thing, the test matches!  The first All Black training squad has been named, sans any Crusaders who are obviously preparing for battle this Saturday. 

A few surprises in the side, some not so big surprises (to me anyway, Messer's Williams, Thomson and Boric have been floating around in the BartMan cranium over the last week), and some surprising, and again, not so surprising omissions.

Anyway, the easy part, lets look at the more surprising selections for the squad, alphabetically for starters...

Anthony Boric (North Harbour, Blues).
New cap : 2.00m : 110kg
Beanpole Boric started the season mainly on the bench for the Blues, before the fact that having two short arse locks was not helping their lineout.  So Boric was wheeled into the starting lineup, and the lineout became a solid source of pill again, and the Blues started to win again.  Simple game rugby, isn't it!

Richard Kahui (Waikato, Chiefs).
New cap : 1.90m : 98kg
Kahui is picked as much on promise and previous form, as current form.  He has all the making to be a very good centre three quarter at international level, just needs the toughness of a Joe Stanley or a Frank Bunce! 

Kevin O'Neill (Waikato, Chiefs).
New cap : 2.01m : 117kg
Blimey, if you listened to the forums, myself included, O'Neil would have been lucky to be selected for the Tairua Pipi Pickers XV, let alone the Chiefs, let alone the All Black training squad!  To be fair, he has improved all season, and with the mass exodus of All Blacks from last season, the net is being spread far and wide as the All Blacks look to sort out their lock stocks!  Huge change for the big man to impress.

Then the not so surprising selections, but still players first sniffs at national selection...

Paul Williams (Canterbury, Highlanders).
New cap : 1.88m : 98kg
Despite playing for a team that would not be able to win a rigged raffle let alone a Super 14 match, Williams gave top service at fullback and wing.  Only behind MacDonald and Muliaina in the fullback stakes, and able to play wing if needed, I for one would feel pretty safe with Williams in a black 15 shirt.  Some of his spot tackling, and all of his defence this season has been massive, some real bone crunchers.  If he does not make the All Blacks for the home tests this season, look for him to be one of the first on the plane for the Grand Slam tour.

Adam Thomson (Otago, Highlanders).
New cap : 1.96m : 112kg
Ever since I saw this bloke tear the Bay of Plenty side apart last season I have tipped him for higher honours.  At times this season though he has struggled to make the Highlanders starting XV, but in all his performances he has been special, things happen when the big guy is on the field.  Tireless on both attack and defence, and skilled - he was a New Zealand sevens rep.  All the talk has been about Kieran Reid and Jerome Kaino replacing the retired Jerry Collins, perhaps unwisely.  Thomson has the best attributes of both Reuben Thorne and Jerry Collins all in one package.  For some reason, also remind me a little of Mark Shaw, which can't be a bad thing!!

Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour, Blues).
New cap : 1.82m : 89kg
Centre or wing, it doesn't matter, Tuitavake has been on fire this season for the Blues.  He stated at one stage this season that he wanted to concentrate on the wing, as he thought that was his best chance of breaking into the All Black side.  A week later Nucifora was playing him at centre, and he was superb there too.  Whereever he plays, I would love to see him playing test rugby.  Probably safer defensive wise on the wing though!

Stephen Donald (Waikato, Chiefs).
New cap : 1.90m : 98kg
Well, if you take away the first few games of the Chiefs season, he has been an All Black in waiting this season.  Had a great NPC last season, and was named by Henry as the player most unlucky not to make the All Blacks World Cup squad.  The forum no doubt will be split over if he desreves this chance or not, at least now we will see if he can cut the mustard at the highest level.  I would not be surprised to see him play at 12 also, as he is a big bugger, quick off the mark, and has spent time there in the past, and was bloody good there.

Tom Donnelly (Otago, Highlanders).
New cap : 2.00m : 110kg
A good hard working lock, paying for an unfashionable team, but doing the business, getting the basics sorted out, scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls.  A working lock, not spotted pretending to be a centre for half the match, but heads down, arse up doing the hard yards at the coal face.  Three clichés in a single sentence, that is good work!!  Anyway, deserving selection.

Rudi Wulf (North Harbour, Blues).
New cap : 1.82m : 91kg
Well, I was not a Rudi fan, always thought he was a solid Super 14 player, but nothing special, not international quality!  However, I will bow down to the superior selection skills of the Cartel in this matter!  He's quick, high work rate, finished off well, and invariably makes the right decisions at the right time.  A bit like Doug Howlett perhaps...

And the boys returning to the colours after 'time out'...

John Afoa (Auckland, Blues).
3 tests : 1.83m : 122kg
Always a matter of when and not if the big Aucklander would make it back at the top level.  Like Carl Hayman, thrown in the deep end when very young, bent and battered, dropped, and then recalled.  The extra miles on the clock in Super and NPC level is all that he needed.  He now has plenty of experience, and is ready for that final step up. 

Daniel Braid (Auckland, Blues).
3 tests : 1.86m : 102kg
A specialist cover for openside.  About time too, I have never liked Chris Masoe in the All Black colours, as he is a jack of all trades, master of none.  Openside flanker is a specialist position, and Braid is certainly a specialist!  Not showing the form that he showed in last seasons NPC for Auckland, but still clearly the second cab off the rank when it comes to New Zealand openside flankers.  Marty Holah must be kicking himself, or not really, but his form in the Nh in their current season has been massive too, and now the Cartel decide to take two specialists for the seven jersey!

Jimmy Cowan (Southland, Highlanders).
9 tests : 1.83m : 92kg
Will be the third ranked halfback in the Cartel's lists, heading off Weepu, who is always heading off to the pie cart, thus missing selection.  The best defensive halfback in New Zealand by a country mile, he would not let the side down if he does get the nod, but expect Ellis and Leonard to be the king pins.

Jerome Kaino (Auckland, Blues).
New cap : 1.96m : 109kg
Heir apparent for Jerry Collins and the All Black 6 jersey.  Has had a taste of All Black rugby, and is now injury free and playing 6 on a constant basis.  Although he has said that he prefers to pack down at number eight.  Either way, the big guys time has come - but will the Cartel agree, or throw Thomson or Reid the six shirt...?

Ma'a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes).
18 tests : 1.82m : 102kg
Once the brains trust at the Hurricanes moved the big guy from the wing into the midfield, his game blossomed.  While he can play wing if needs be, his best spot is closer in to the action, where he can get his mitts on the ball more often, and unleash his damaging running game.  One of the few genuine line breakers in New Zealand rugby at the moment.

John Schwalger (Wellington, Hurricanes).
1 test : 1.87m : 122kg
Has been plodding along each week, doing his job in the tight.  nothing flash, but a better player now than when he was first selected in the All Blacks last season.  Mainly because of the extra mileage on the clock, front rankers need to play, and play, and play.  No reconditioning for these roosters, time on the field is what the fatties need for match fitness (their is no way to train for all in wrestling for 80 minutes), and the more they play, the better they get.

And the few returning World Cup All Blacks...

Andrew Hore (Taranaki, Hurricanes).
25 tests : 1.83m : 111kg
One of the few All Blacks to enhance his reputation at the RWC last season, and has been the form hooker this season in the Super 14 too.  A no brainer selection.

Sione Lauaki (Waikato, Waikato).
11 tests : 1.92m : 120kg
Started like a fat looking prop who didn't want to be playing code, and finished strongly, but still not in the blockbusting form that he was in at the end of the last Super 14 season.  Looks to be getting left behind to be fair in the race for loose forward spots.  Work rate lacking at times, but he does have that X factor of being a human wrecking ball the mood takes him, and the lungs allow it.

Brendon Leonard (Waikato, Chiefs).
9 tests : 1.82m : 92kg
If the measure of how good a player is is when he is not playing, than Leonard is bloody good.  Chiefs with Leonard have extra sting, without him, they start to look a little rudderless.  So that is a good measure for Leonard.  Like the Chiefs team, and the players in general, Leonard started slow, but looked like an All Black again midway through the season.

Keven Mealamu (Auckland, Blues).
50 tests : 1.81m : 106kg
Not in the best form of his career over the duration of the Super 14, but still, with Hore, one of the two best hookers in New Zealand.  His ball running seemed to fall off this season, but his defence picked up!  So no longer the ball running hooker, now the defensive wrecking ball hooker.  A nice yin and yang with Hore.

Mils Muliaina (Waikato, Chiefs).
55 tests : 1.83m : 93kg
Is it a centre, no, is it a fullback, no, it's Mils Muliaina.  Poor bugger was shuffled from pillar to post this season as the Chiefs, for a change, had  a million injures in their backline.  Did not look comfortable at centre, the boy is at home at fullback, please leave him there - you would think we would have learned after THREE world cup fucks ups with fullbacks at centre...

Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, Chiefs).
21 tests : 1.85m : 100kg
If he didn't do what he sometimes does, he would be no where near an NPC side, let alone an All Black squad.  Can be lazier than a club prop with a hangover, and then can set the world alight with a run that no other winger in New Zealand cam come up with.  The job for the cartel is to get more running, and less lazing!  With Gear and Howlett gone, and Rokocoko injured, there is no other option at the moment.

Conrad Smith (Wellington, Hurricanes).
12 tests : 1.86m : 95kg
Will have been loving his injury free run, and has been playing some good solid football.  Not lighting up the world with his brilliance though, and has been found at times wanting for good old fashioned pace.  Still a safe option to have there is you put a Nonu in at second five.  But at the moment not looking like a long term option, to me anyway!

Rodney So'oialo (Wellington, Hurricanes).
41 tests : 1.90m : 107kg
Another solid season from clearly the best number eight in New Zealand.  Has a few brain farts during the Super 14's early rounds, but has buckled down and is performing as an international number eight week in and week out now. 

Neemia Tialata (Wellington, Hurricanes).
21 tests : 1.87m : 129kg
Fat, lazy, talented, skilled.  If he can ditch the first two there, the lazy having to go first, then this giant of a man could be a rock around which to build a tight five.  He's had plenty of chances though, and the cartel must be starting to get a bit sick of this and would be looking around for other options. 

Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, Blues).
37 tests : 1.84m : 118kg
Business as usual for Woodcock.  Will be in the starting line up for the tests that matter this season.  Which is all of them, so he should start in all of them shouldn't he....?

Then you have the Crusaders that should be, or could be slotting into the side when the first All Blacks are named, as opposed to the above in the training squad.  Starting at the back, as I can't be bothered doing the alphabetical thing!  So...

Leon MacDonald, Casey Laulala, Stephen Brett, Dan Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richard McCaw, Kieran Reid, Brad Thorne, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville, Wyatt Crockett and Ben Franks.

Yes, that's damn near their entire squad!  But those 13 players are all in line for test match rugby this season.  Probably only these blokes 'certainties' though, MacDonald, Carter, Ellis, McCaw, Williams and Somerville.

Finally, the blokes that have had the 'don't come Monday' call, the surprising ones, now officially ex All Blacks.  For the time being anyway for Eaton I am sure, but for Weepu it is certainly time up you chunky little man, at least until the Cartel stops steering the All Black ship.  Could the lard butted one be the asnwer to the Auckland Warriors dummy half or stanmd off position.  Yes, I said Auckland Warriors, as buggered if they are representing NEW ZEALAND, not this part of it anyway...  Anyway, the 'surprising' omissions

Jason Eaton (Wellington, Hurricanes).
10 tests : 2.02m : 107kg
After the first game of the season, it has been all down hill.  Eaton was the only Hurricanes that earned his pay in their first round loss to the Waratahs.  Since then, he has been solid, but not spectacular.  Certainly not looking like an All Black lock.  But, the big man has the skills, and the drive, he just needs time in the middle doing his thing.  He won't have that 'ex' beside the All Black name for long.  Watch for a big NPC and an end of season tour.

Piri Weepu (Wellington, Hurricanes).
20 tests : 1.78m : 94kg (94kg, that rugbymuseum website must be taking the proverbial) !!
If you can have a bogan Southlander halfback getting in trouble on the turps every second week in the All Black training squad, and not a lolly loving lard arse, there must be more to the non selection of Piri Weepu than meets the publics eye.  He has played better as the season progressed, but to be fair to the Cartel, perhaps he is not in the top three halfbacks in New Zealand at the moment anyway.

Chris Masoe (Wellington, Hurricanes).
21 tests : 1.83m : 106kg
Master of no trades, that has finally come to haunt Masoe.  Also the emergence of players that are better than him in at least two of the three loose forward positions in Kaino and Thompson.  Has been playing to his normal high standard, but I think a wind shift in the selectors plans has seen him miss out.  He is also getting longer in the tooth, and while not wanting to be 'building' for the RWC 2011 now, it is probably a good idea to pick the younger of two players if both are of a similar ability, as they should have a longer shelf life!

Nick Evans (Auckland, Blues).
16 tests : 1.80m : 84kg
When the going gets tough, Nick Evans goes.  Not for the money, for the lifestyle, where's that Tui Billboard - yeah right!  I think the only honest sign on for the NH this season was Craig Newby, who straight out said he was going for the money.  If he wanted the lifestyle he would stay in New Zealand.  I also think he was having a shot at Evans with that, as Evans was wanking on about lifestyle when he announced his departure.  Anways, he's gone, and fair enough, once he got his head knock and missed a few games for the Blues, his form fell apart, and he finished the season at fullback, with bit part player Nacewa filling the ten shirt.

Isaia Toeava (Auckland, Blues).
15 tests : 1.81m : 92kg
Wayne Smith will be having nightmares that his pet project has not made the grade this season.  but, really, he has never really made the grade form wise to be an All Black.  he has been a work in progress picked on potential as a youngster.  I think I have only seen in one game that he should be an All Black, that the semi final last year when the Blues lost to the Sharks, and he was tearing up from second five.  Other than that, he has been a bog standard quality Super 14 back, sometimes hot, sometimes not.  Still a young fella, so time on his side.  Just needs to decide what position he is going to play, and then go and serve his apprenticeship there.  Time on the field.

Whoops, I forgot the others that have not made the grade, the 'people's picks', the Benson Stableys, Masagas and the Vainakolas of this world.  And that really is about it, the two super exciting wings, and the solid midfielder.  I think though it might be a season too early for them.  More than likely though that one, or perhaps all three of them might be touring at the end of the season in an extended All Black squad.

Finally, for the sake of argument, and because we can, a test XV from the above selections.  And with the thoughts that it will be only McCaw and Carter that double up for the Irish test, this could well be the test side on Saturday week...

15:  Mils Muliaina, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald (Carter), 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Dan Braid (McCaw), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Kevin Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Not a lot of experience in that forward pack - we might yet see one of Thorn or Williams added to the second row.  The Paddy's will not roll over and die for the All Blacks.  Probably their best chance ever of chalking up a first win against the men in black.