At last, the first All Black test side of the team named.  A solid enough looking side, with the view of the England tests in another weeks time clearly in this picture in some of the selections.

The All Blacks have named what you could arguably say is their second string front row (Hore / Mealamu the arguing point here), props Tialata and Afoa given the first run out of the season.  The Irish scrum obviously not as much of a threat as the English one, and the Somerville / Woodcock duo being saved for that first test.  The third test of the season, the second Pom test might see a 'best' front row trotted out, so that selection will be interesting in a fortnights time!

But back to the present, the premier locking pair has been named, Williams and Thorn, in a concession to the lineout that the Paddies posses, which is pretty handy with the two O's both among the top lineout forwards in the world.

Most interesting call from the Cartel is the loose trio and the rebuilding process.  They have thrown the number eight jumper to Jerome Kaino, and slipped regular choice number eight Rodney So'oialo to the blindside.  Not as shocking a selection as many would think.  Kaino in fact prefers the number eight position to the flank spot he has played all season for the Blues, and Rodders played most of his early rugby on the flank for Wellington and the Hurricanes.  The recently retired Jerry was number eight during those days, before they reversed roles halfway through the 2002 season for some reason!  So'oialo in fact played the 2001 season for the Hurricanes on the openside flank, with Collins at 6 and Tiatia at 8.  Those were the days!  Anyway, he is back where he started, with the bigger Kaino starting in the boot, and of course, captain Richie McCaw at seven.

The Crusaders pairing of Ellis and Carter join up with Hurricanes Nonu and Smith in the inside backs as the Cartel throws some pre built combinations into the mix.  That also continues to an extent with the back three, Chiefs Muliiana and Sivivatu combining with new cap Tuitavake.

All in all a very strong team named, not far off the top team (props perhaps) that the Cartel could name.  Showing plenty of respect to the Paddies, who do deserve it, despite their shite 6 Nations season!

A result?  You want me to pick a result?  Bloody hell this is a tough one.  The All Blacks with five returning / new All Blacks, a new midfield, positional changes, who bloody knows.  I think the test will be tough as hell, but I am thinking that the Paddies will keep their duck, and not beat the All Blacks once again.  They will be close though, for 50 or 60 minutes before the All Blacks pull away closer to full time... All Blacks 13+

All Blacks:  Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata.  Reserves:  Kevin Mealamu, John Schwalger, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.

The Irish team:  Robert Kearney, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (captain), Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Marcus Horan.  Reserves:  Girvan Dempsey, Paddy Wallace, Peter Stringer, Shane Jennings, Mick O'Driscoll, Tony Buckley, Rory Best.

All Black team stats.

1  Neemia Tialata (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 25 years : 21 tests : 1.87m : 129kg

2  Andrew Hore (Taranaki, Hurricanes) : 29 years ; 25 tests : 1.83m : 111kg

3  John Afoa (Auckland, Blues) : 24 years : 3 tests : 1.83m : 122kg

4  Ali Williams (Tasman, Crusaders) : 27 years : 46 tests ; 2:02m : 112kg

5  Brad Thorn (Tasman, Crusaders) : 33 years : 12 tests : 1:95m : 113kg

6  Rodney So’oialo (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 28 years : 41 tests : 1.90m : 107kg

7  Richie McCaw (Canterbury, Crusaders, captain) : 27 years : 59 tests : 1:87m : 106kg

8  Jerome Kaino (Auckland, Blues) : 25 years : 2 caps : 1.96m : 109kg

9  Andy Ellis (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 24 years : 4 tests ; 1.81m : 92kg

10  Dan Carter (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 26 years : 44 tests : 1:78m : 91kg

12 Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years : 18 tests : 1.82m : 102kg

11  Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, Chiefs) : 26 years : 21 tests : 1.85m : 100kg

13  Conrad Smith (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years ; 12 tests : 1.86m : 95kg

14  Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour, Blues) : 26 years : New cap : 1.82m : 89kg

15  Mils Muliaina  (Waikato, Chiefs) : 27 years : 55 tests : 1.83m : 93kg

16  Keven Mealamu (Auckland, Blues) : 29 years : 50 tests : 1.81m : 106kg

17  John Schwalger (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 25 years : 1 tests : 1.87m : 118kg

18  Anthony Boric (North Harbour, Blues) : 24 years : New cap : 2.00m : 110kg

19  Adam Thomson (Otago, Highlanders) : 26 years : New cap : 1.96m : 112kg

20  Jimmy Cowan (Southland, Highlanders) : 26 years : 9 tests : 1.82m : 91kg

21  Stephen Donald (Waikato, Chiefs) : 24 years : New cap : 1.90m : 98kg

22  Leon MacDonald (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 30 years : 51 tests : 1.81m : 96kg