No mercy for Cruden, Vito

Muddled thinking could cost the All Blacks victory in next year's Rugby World Cup.
Not by the players but by Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, the three so-called wise men who have the responsibility for the selecting and coaching duties.
Whichever way you look at it, there seems no good reason why they should overlook a handful of the country's most promising talent for their 30-man squad which starts a five-match end-of-year tour with a fixture against Australia in Hong Kong on October 31.
And not giving these youngsters the chance to gain valuable match time against international competition might just come back to haunt them in their bid to exorcise the World Cup demons which have befallen us ever since Sir Brian Lochore guided the ABs to success away back in 1987.
Particularly difficult to understand is the dumping of Manawatu first-five Aaron Cruden and Wellington loose forward Victor Vito, both of whom have been part of the ABs squad for most of the 2010 season.
Yes, both have been unable to impose themselves with any great authority at the top level but they haven't disgraced themselves either. Certainly not enough to suggest that with more games in the ABs jersey, they would soon starting living up to their potential.
There was no suggestion either in the lead-up to the touring party's selection that their places were in jeopardy.
In fact, their appearances in the ITM Cup were restricted by Henry and company, presumably because their passages were booked. Yeah, right! Instead they have missed out to players who had the benefit of regular matchplay to push their cause, Cruden to Stephen Donald and Vito to Liam Messam.
Good players that they are, Donald and Messam have been tried in the ABs before and their form hardly inspires confidence that they will do any better than Cruden and Vito.
Wouldn't it have made more sense to allow Cruden and Vito the opportunity to fulfil their promise rather than take two men whose skill range is hardly likely to improve at this stage of their careers?
From a World Cup perspective the answer to that question in most people's minds would have to be a resounding "yes" but obviously Henry, Hansen and Smith see things rather differently.
It will now be interesting to see how Cruden and Vito cope with the extra pressures imposed - as much by the media as anyone else - on players who find themselves no longer required for international duty.
Being axed from the ABs is big news in this part of the world and many players who have suffered that fate have struggled to pick themselves off the canvas, as much because of the spotlight put on them as anything else.
Fortunately, however, these two seem built of sterner stuff and the odds are they will take this latest setback on the chin and bounce back.
Cruden and Vito were not the only members of the younger brigade whose non-selection for the end-of-year tour could be questioned.
If, as it seems, ITM Cup form was so important, how come big Canterbury midfield back Robbie Fruean failed to make the cut? His strength, aggressiveness and speed have deservedly seen him hitting the headlines in game after game.
If Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams had the midfield spots sewn up, surely he could have edged out either Joe Rokocoko or Sitiveni Sivivatu for a wing berth or Isaia Toeava as a utility back.
Another Cantabrian in Colin Slade had similar claims to Fruean, possibly even more so after making an impressive debut for the ABs in their last clash against the Aussies.
He can play anywhere from first-five to fullback and when you throw in his goal kicking skills, it's hard to accept he wasn't among the 14 backs selected for this trip.