Like father, like son as Oliver named All Black captain

By WYNNE GRAY 1.00pm

After an All Black captaincy reign of 10 tests, Todd Blackadder has given way to Anton Oliver.

Oliver's elevation means the 25-year-old hooker emulates his father Frank in becoming All Black skipper, the first father-son combination in the history of New Zealand rugby.

While Blackadder's demise was expected after a quiet Super 12 campaign, the omission of another lock, Royce Willis, is perhaps the greatest surprise in the announcement of the 30-strong national training squad to go into camp in Palmerston North on June 2.

While Willis is unlucky, a number of others from his Chiefs side - Roger Randle, Marty Holah, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby and Mark Cooksley - have been promoted after a resurgent season from the franchise.

First five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens has retained his place in the squad, despite spending two weeks playing club rugby before being recalled by the Crusaders for their final Super 12 match.

The Chiefs' captain, Deon Muir, will lead a powerful New Zealand Maori rugby team against the Wallabies in Sydney on June 9.

Muir will captain a side which includes several 2000 or previous All Blacks such as Greg Feek, Kees Meeuws, Mark Cooksley, Norm Hewitt, Norm Maxwell, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Ron Cribb, Carlos Spencer, Daryl Gibson and Leon MacDonald.

All Black training squad:

Backs: Christian Cullen, Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson, Roger Randle, Tana Umaga, Keith Lowen, Pita Alatini, Mark Ranby, Andrew Mehrtens, Tony Brown, Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher.

Forwards: Ron Cribb, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Scott Robertson, Reuben Thorne, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Mark Cooksley, Greg Somerville, Gordon Slater, Carl Hoeft, Cark Hayman, Mark Hammett, Anton Oliver (capt).

Maori squad:

Backs: Rhys Duggan, Brendan Haami, Carlos Spencer, Glen Jackson, Daryl Gibson, Rua Tipoki, Caleb Ralph, Roger Randle, Bruce Reihana, Brad Fleming, Leon MacDonald.

Forwards: Kees Meeuws, Greg Feek, Deacon Manu, Slade McFarland, Norm Hewitt, Mark Cooksley, Norm Maxwell, Dion Waller, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Matua Parkinson, Deon Muir (captain), Ron Cribb.