Jeez time flies - the first All Black squad named, and the first test team named before I have had a chance to run my rule over the squad.  Anyway, I'll catch up now, first with the All Black squad, and then with the test line up for the Irish.

A very good squad named I reckon, no real sticking points.  Kieran Reid perhaps the only surprise omission, but when you listen to the Cartel's comments, he will be an All Black before too long.  I just think big Adam Thomson is plain and simple a better player than the Cantab favourite.  He just plays for a completely crap team...

Onto the squad...

The Props:
The departure of Carl Hayman has left a huge hole in the All Black front three to fill, and the selection of three specialist tighthead props is a genuine hedging of your bets by the Cartel.  Two of the props able to play both sides though, in Somerville and Tialata.  Tialata is a bit of a converted TH at any rate if I recall, and seems to be best suited to loosehead prop at any rate.  Certainly plays his best rugby with a 1 on his back.  The other two props, the Blues bookends Woodcock and Somerville are both single side specialists, and would be close to being the two best props, on form, in this seasons Super 14.

So while the front row will be weakened, with Woodcock and Mealamu still available, it is still a front row to be reckoned with, but at this stage, not one to be feared.  That fear factor will come back if Afoa and company can get the Hayman dominance.

Bubbling just under the top level here if any of the above should break down or fail are John Schwalger from the wider training group, and the Crusaders pairing of Franks and Crockett, Franks a future prospect, Crockett more of a now is the hour man!! 

John Afoa (Auckland, Blues) : 24 years : 3 tests : 1.83m : 122kg
Greg Somerville (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 30 years : 57 tests : 1.87m : 115kg
Neemia Tialata (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 25 years : 21 tests : 1.87m : 129kg
Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, Blues) : 27 years : 37 tests : 1.84m : 118kg

The Hookers:
Once Corey Flynn broke his are in the semi final against the Hurricanes, a no contest was declared, and last seasons rakes Andrew Hore and Kevin Mealamu got the nod.  Fair enough too, as they were the two form hookers, along with Flynn of the New Zealand Super 14 teams.  Tom Willis I would think would be the next cab off the rank, or perhaps they would go with a promising youngster like Hika Elliot.  And with a name like Hika, hell, you can't go wrong!!

Andrew Hore (Taranaki, Hurricanes) : 29 years ; 25 tests : 1.83m : 111kg
Keven Mealamu (Auckland, Blues) : 29 years : 50 tests : 1.81m : 106kg

The Locks:
Probably the most wide open spots in New Zealand rugby, so the Cartel have gone with a returning veteran in Brad Thorn, and of course, Ali Williams, now the senior lock on the All Black scene.  Thron has been in massive form for God's Warrirors, and deserves his recall, and Williams has been in top form too, showing New Zealand rugby he is now the king pin of second row.  Joining this pair is Anthony Boric of North Harbour, who stated this season on the bench for the Blues, and then forced his way into the starting lineup.  Firstly because they needed line out ball, and at 2 metres you get that with the young fella, and secondly, his general play and work rate demanded selection over the sawn off shot gun lock Haiu.  Unlucky to miss the cut is Tom Donnelly of Otago, but he will get his chance should Boric fold.  A more experienced campaigner, he would have been my choice over the latte sipper!

Anthony Boric (North Harbour, Blues) : 24 years : New cap : 2.00m : 110kg
Ali Williams (Tasman, Crusaders) : 27 years : 46 tests ; 2:02m : 112kg
Brad Thorn (Tasman, Crusaders) : 33 years : 12 tests : 1:95m : 113kg

Loose Forwards:
With the retirement of Jerry Collins from international rugby, a new flying squad needs to be built, and the Cartel have gone a little with the old, and a little with the new in the search.  Although the 'old', Jerome Kaino is not that old, but seems that way after having made his debut for the All Blacks on the end of season tour in 2004.  He has since then bubbled under, and is now ready for the top level.  The new is very new.  Adam Thomson, who 16 weeks ago was Mr Nobody, is now an All Black.  Deservedly so too, with some great form for the piss poor Highlanders.

Old favourites queue up again too, with So'oilao, McCaw and Lauaki joining the two newcomers.  No room for jack of all trades Masoe, or openside specialist Braid.  Braid's selection for New Zealand Maori, and his involvement in the training squad before the All Black announcement shows he is next cab off the rank though for the seven shirt should injury strike. 

Mose Tuiali'i and Kieran Reid both miss out, and both must have gone very close to making the cut.  Reid missing out to Thomson, and Mose to Lauaki.  This must be Laukai's last chance to deliver on the 'promise' and form that he shows all to rarely.

Jerome Kaino (Auckland, Blues) : 25 years : 2 caps : 1.96m : 109kg
Sione Lauaki (Waikato, Chiefs) : 26 years : 11 tests : 1.92m : 120kg
Rodney So’oialo (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 28 years : 41 tests : 1.90m : 107kg
Adam Thomson (Otago, Highlanders) : 26 years : New cap : 1.96m : 112kg
Richie McCaw (Canterbury, Crusaders, captain) : 27 years : 59 tests : 1:87m : 106kg

Halfbacks:
There were four contenders at the start of this season for the two spots available, but only two in with a real chance.  Weepu and Cowan would have needed to have superb seasons if they had wanted to dislodge Ellis and Leanard from their favoured spots in the Cartel's lists.  Neither did, so they didn't! 

Brendon Leonard (Waikato, Chiefs) : 23 years : 9 tests : 1.82m : 92kg
Andy Ellis (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 24 years : 4 tests ; 1.81m : 92kg

First fives:
With Evans heading north, and not playing that well after the opening rounds of the Super 14, a new boy had to be picked at ten for the All Blacks.  By default almost, Stephen Donald gets the spot.  That is perhaps a tad unfair on Evans, as he has played for the Junior All Blacks over the last two seasons, and was on fire for the Chiefs over the middle and end of the Super 14 season.  We won't talk about the start of the season though...  Dan Carter of course retains a mortgage on the ten shirt, but expect Donald to put the heat on, he is not as bad a player as many (myself included) like to portray him to be.  Donald's ability to play second five too, at a more than acceptable Super 14 level is a plus, expect him to get time here during the season.  Especially with just the one 'specialist' second five in the side in Ma'a Nonu!

Dan Carter (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 26 years : 44 tests : 1:78m : 91kg
Stephen Donald (Waikato, Chiefs) : 24 years : New cap : 1.90m : 98kg

Midfield:
Two foodbill centres and a newly found second five.  So not the strongest part of the 2008 All Blacks at this stage.  However, it is certainly an exciting lineup, with Nonu a genuine game breaker, and Kahui too, a very exciting player - when he is not on the physio table that is.  Smith his usual steady self, which with Nonu, is a good combination, as the Hurricanes found out over the latter stages of the Super 14.

Richard Kahui (Waikato, Chiefs) : 22 years : New cap : 1.90m : 98kg
Conrad Smith (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years ; 12 tests : 1.86m : 95kg
Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years : 18 tests : 1.82m : 102kg

Wings:
With the injury to Rokocoko, the Cartel have been forced to blood two new players here on the wings.  Tuitavake gets a deserved chance.  Like Donald, he has done the time in the Juniors, and like Donlad, has been in great form this Super season.  A deserving choice.  Wulf too has been in form, but to tell the truth, I never saw him as All Black potential.  Perhaps just as well that I am not an All Black selector.

Rudi Wulf (North Harbour, Blues) : 24 years : New cap : 1.82m : 91kg
Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, Chiefs) : 26 years : 21 tests : 1.85m : 100kg
Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour, Blues) : 26 years : New cap : 1.82m : 89kg

Fullback:
If we are a bit thin in the ranks in the midfield, we are overflowing with talent at fullback!  Two world class exponents of the art, both with more than 50 tests, brilliant! 

Leon MacDonald (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 30 years : 51 tests : 1.81m : 96kg
Mils Muliaina  (Waikato, Chiefs) : 27 years ; 55 tests : 1.83m : 93kg

Omissions from the training squad: Braid, Donnelly, O'Neill, Paul Williams
Omissions from the Crusaders: Reid, Laulala, Hamilton, Crockett, Franks, Tuiali'i, Brett