By WYNNE GRAY
Traditional All Black conservatism got the boot yesterday.
New coach Wayne Smith and his selectors opened the new millennium with a team for Friday's test against Tonga which would be as bold as any in recent times.
It was a choice which should have staggered and excited the country.
Stunning absentees were Andrew Mehrtens and Norm Maxwell - players who would be considered certainties - while others such as Byron Kelleher, Kees Meeuws and Anton Oliver, who almost hit that category, were also bypassed.
The refreshing part of the choice was that the new panel did not feel inhibited by convention. They had their reasons for the surprises, which they did their best to camouflage, but clearly Mehrtens has been sheltered from the physical fury of Tonga, while this side would also not be picked were the Springboks or Wallabies the opponents at North Harbour Stadium.
In recent years the All Blacks have been as close to full strength as possible for opening tests against Canada, Samoa, Fiji and England C.
However, Smith has been a strong advocate of using an entire squad since he took over the Crusaders for the Super 12 and the substitution laws were relaxed.
In the best example of his flexibility, he used his entire bench when the underdog Crusaders snatched the Super 12 title from the Blues in 1998.
In justifying his opening pick against Tonga, Smith said he and the panel thought all 27 in the squad were of international calibre and the only way to test that was to give them a chance.
Some new players had been put in alongside experienced test men.
"But I would like to reiterate we have 27 players we think can play test rugby and until they prove otherwise we will give them an opportunity," said Smith. "They will sort themselves out over the next two tests."
The coach rejected the idea this XV was an experimental choice. However, the omission of Mehrtens and Maxwell alone points to that conclusion.
The selection policy can only be commended at this stage. Whether the country and the panel feel similarly will now be part of the fascination about Friday.
Eight of the All Blacks who were part of a patchy win against Tonga at the World Cup return for this test, and perhaps most surprisingly, given Smith's Christchurch background and the Crusaders' season, only five of the champion Super 12 side have been picked.
"We do not want to coach scared," said Smith.
"We want to show we have got faith in the players, that they are all worthy of playing test rugby and the only way to prove that is to let them loose."
This selection was not a case of playing mind-games with the squad, though the intention was to promote competition, avoid burnout and make sure there was cover for any injuries.
Injury has pushed the panel in a couple of places.
With Ron Cribb not available for No 8, former skipper Taine Randell, rather than another tyro, Filo Tiatia, has gone to the back of the scrum where he will bring experience and leadership help for new skipper Todd Blackadder.
In the contentious midfield scramble, Pita Alatini and Alama Ieremia have been selected ahead of Mark Robinson, with Tana Umaga covering centre if there is an injury. While there was no official confirmation, it seems Ieremia and Alatini may, at times, swap positions.
Smith said his side would offer a new style against Tonga but would also play an uncluttered brand of rugby as they worked through the first of their seven tests for the season.
Tonga, who trained twice yesterday, are expected to announce their side this morning.
The full team
15 - Fullback: Christian Cullen
14 - Right Wing: Tana Umaga
13 - Centre: Alana Ieremia
12 - Second five-eighths: Pita Alatini
11 - Left Wing: Jonah Lomu
10 - First five-eighths: Tony Brown
-9 - Halfback: Justin Marshall
-8 - No. 8: Taine Randell
-7 - Openside flanker: Josh Kronfeld
-6 - Blindside flanker: Reuben Thorne
-5 - Lock: Troy Flavell
-4 - Lock: Todd Blackadder (c)
-3 - Tighthead prop: Greg Somerville
-2 - Hooker: Mark Hammett
-1 - Loosehead prop: Craig Dowd
Reserves
Backs: Doug Howlett, Andrew Mehrtens, Byron Kelleher
Forwards: Filo Tiatia, Scott Robertson, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver
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