All Blacks selectors show their hand

Doug Howlett and Troy Flavell were among the top players at the Waitakere training session. Ross Land / Getty Images

Three days out from the official announcement, a group with suspicious similarities to the All Blacks began training yesterday for the first test against Ireland.

New faces were lock Greg Rawlinson and prop Clarke Dermody while Troy Flavell, Jerome Kaino, Craig Newby, David Hill and Sam Tuitupou were recycled after some time away from the national scene.

Chiefs loose forwards Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah were also back in favour after their 2005 seasons were marred by injury then non-selection.

More than 20 players from the Blues, Chiefs and Highlanders gathered at Waitakere yesterday to complete a range of conditioning, speed, strength and skill tests.

They will form the core of the 24 players who will be used in two tests against Ireland while 15 others from the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the Super 14 final will be rested for the next test against Argentina.

Only All Black captain Richie McCaw and a few other finalists will be added to yesterday's group to prepare for the June 10 test opener in Hamilton.

The All Black coaches and training staff supervised the conditioning session at Waitakere but none of the players or officials were available for comment.

An advisory note to the media emphasised that instruction.

The note also described the players as being "some candidates" for the All Blacks and Junior All Blacks squads.

Three squads - the 39 All Blacks, 26 Junior All Blacks and 26 NZ Maori players - will be revealed on Sunday once the last medical and selection meetings have been held after the Super 14 final in Christchurch.

However, yesterday's assembly looked to be near-enough to an All Black side in waiting and their reserves.

Holah was there as cover for McCaw while loosehead prop Tony Woodcock attended the session although his calf tear will likely eliminate him from the first three tests.

Gibbes, Flavell and Kaino have had their injury dramas this season and may have been picked with the idea of easing them back into test rugby with a somewhat workload.

Flavell and Gibbes may double as backup locks.

Following the group training yesterday, it appears that Mils Muliaina is being lined up for the centre spot rather than fullback.

That would leave either Doug Howlett or Luke McAlister to fill in at fullback with young Hurricanes fullback Isaia Toeava another possibility if he emerges unscathed from the Super 14 final.

Hill's reappearance as backup to Luke McAlister has occurred because Daniel Carter and Nick Evans were not available.

Hill has not been picked for the All Blacks since his two midweek games on the 2001 tour to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.

* All Blacks Muliaina, Evans, Andrew Hore and Jason Eaton have extended their contracts with the New Zealand Rugby Union. Muliaina has signed until the end of the 2009 season, while Hore, Evans and Eaton have signed until the end of 2008.

WAITAKERE TRAINING

Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sam Tuitupou, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Craig Newby, Marty Holah, Troy Flavell, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Clarke Dermody, Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Jono Gibbes, Jerome Kaino, Jimmy Cowan, David Hill.