Wynne Gray
Test XV: Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Ron Cribb, Marty Holah, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack, Dion Waller, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver (c), Carl Hoeft
Others: Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Daryl Gibson, Mark Ranby, Bruce Reihana, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Deon Muir, Taine Randell, Reuben Thorne, Norm Maxwell, Royce Willis, Kees Meeuws, Mark Hammett, Carl Hayman.
It is a season too far for Todd Blackadder and a season too tough for Jeff Wilson in my search for more astute footballers.
Several are selected by default. Andrew Mehrtens is the five-eighths with the most parts to his game, Marty Holah makes it after a grand season and the absence of injured duo Kupu Vanisi and Justin Collins, while Ron Cribb has all the natural talent which can be reorganised quickly to edge out the multifaceted Deon Muir.
And at centre a lack of depth means Tana Umaga has to be used with backup from the solid talents of Daryl Gibson while Taine Randell deputises for Holah in a slim selection group. Classy young blindsider Jerry Collins stands out for his workrate, skills and lack of errors, Chris Jack and Dion Waller are specialist locks with the mix of physique and skills the All Black pack needs. Others like Filo Tiatia, Troy Flavell and Scott Robertson seem to crash their way through games when more thought would bring greater benefit while Mark Cooksley remains a stuttering colossus.
Those pushing the test XV hardest are Bruce Reihana, Mark Ranby, Royce Willis and Carl Hayman. Leader of the pack and new skipper is the world class Anton Oliver.
Chris Rattue
Test XV: Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Deon Muir, Marty Holah, Taine Randell, Norm Maxwell, Royce Willis, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver (c), Carl Hoeft
Others: Leon MacDonald, Jeff Wilson, Daryl Gibson
Mark Ranby, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Ron Cribb, Rodney Sooialo, Jerry Collins,
Reuben Thorne, Troy Flavell, Chris Jack, Deacon Manu, Carl Hayman, Mark Hammett
The All Blacks must place their faith in the talent and enthusiasm of young forwards as they go into this season, and look ahead to the World Cup.
Thus, it is time to open the door for the likes of Carl Hayman, Deacon Manu, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack, Marty Holah and Rodney Sooialo even if for some it is only in the enlarged squad of 30 at this stage.
Deon Muir has displayed his ability to battle it out in the trenches, which is so vital in test matches, and shown up with strong support running and ball snaffling on the ground. His experience would also be important at the back of an All Blacks scrum that may battle at times.
Muir is not a lineout option, and that would have to be covered by the blindside flanker selection, but his form should be rewarded.
Andrew Mehrtens, despite struggling for top form and showing a strange liking for charging into the biggest forwards he can find, is still the first five-eighths with the best vision and kicking game.
And Justin Marshall has again proved his competitiveness, and shaded Byron Kelleher in the rugged battle at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
Chris Laidlaw
Test XV: Christian Cullen, Doug Howlett,
Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Troy Flavell, Todd Blackadder (c), Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft
Others: Jeff Wilson, Bruce Reihana, Leon MacDonald, Daryl Gibson, Paul Steinmetz, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Jerry Collins, Ron Cribb, Marty Holah, Taine Randell, Mark Cooksley, Kees Meeuws, Carl Hayman, Slade MacFarland.
This isn't an easy team to pick, largely because so few players have been so outstanding this year as to eliminate all scope for argument. Oliver stands out in this category but who else does? You see my problem.
I have retained Blackadder as captain, but only just.
His game has been gradually improving and he remains one of the few forwards who works from start to finish. To counter balance that we need fresh talent at lock and I have included both Jack who is going to make it sooner or later so why not sooner and the enigmatic Cooksley who by some miracle has rediscovered his ability and re-found his confidence.
We also need more bulk and the combination of Robertson, Tiatia and Flavell has a lot of appeal. Just as we need more lineout options, so we need a low-flying scrabbler and Holah is the best in the country at this stage. Lets not argue about Mehrtens. He was always going to fight his way in. The real problems remain in midfield where, apart from Alatini, nobody has been particularly impressive this year and there are no bolters. Umaga must therefore stay at centre and I recommend Steinmetz as the kind of steadying influence that Umaga so obviously needs.
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