All Blacks: The six stalwarts who have gone every step with Hansen

Steve Hansen has faith in the test veterans who have delivered for him. Photos / Getty Images, Brett Phibbs, and Greg Bowker

Six players who linked with Steve Hansen at the start of his All Black coaching career nine years ago, remain as pillars for his first stint as head coach.

Five surviving forwards and a solitary back, Daniel Carter, were in the first All Black squad in 2004 when Hansen returned from Wales to join Wayne Smith as assistant to supremo Graham Henry.

Forwards who started with Hansen were Richie McCaw, Ali Williams and front rowers Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock.

At that point, McCaw was the most capped of the six, with 21 test appearances at the time Hansen joined the All Blacks coaching team. The flanker now has 103 caps and a World Cup-winners medal to show for his celebrated career.

Mealamu has edged up to 92 caps, Carter 85, Woodcock 83 and Williams, who had several seasons out with injury, has played in 73 tests and Hore 62.

Later that season, Conrad Smith and Piri Weepu were picked to debut on the end-of-year tour of Europe while Ma'a Nonu was recalled after four appearances in the 2003 World Cup season.

Eight years on, Hansen and his selectors have chosen an expanded group of 35 who will be asked to attend two three-day camps in Auckland this week and Wellington the week after. The players will be tested, given a variety of information and introduced to All Black strategies before the group is trimmed to 30 on June 3.

That squad will prepare for three tests against Ireland in Auckland on June 9, Christchurch on June 16 and and Hamilton on June 23 while the Super 15 goes on hold.

Meanwhile, a number of Ireland's best are preparing for this weekend's Heineken Cup final when Leinster face Ulster at Twickenham.

Leinster, who are coached by the Blues' former assistant coach Joe Schmidt, are aiming to be the first team to defend the trophy, which they won last season against Northampton.

Schmidt has warned Leinster they will need to be much better than their semifinal work against Clermont Auvergne if they are to triumph in the all-Ireland final.

Schmidt reckons they will need to play better than they did against Clermont Auvergne in their in their semifinal against Bordeaux.

"We were a bit fortunate against Clermont at the end," Schmidt said. "We put ourselves under more pressure than we needed to and we know we are going to have to measure up against Ulster, a team we know very well."

Ulster have a strong pack with John Afoa returning to the front row after a month's ban, galvanised by Stephen Ferris in the back row and directed by Ruan Pienaar from halfback.

Leinster have Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Gordon D'Arcy, Isaac Boss and Brad Thorn in their side.

"A number of players from both sides know each other well and,while we will be the favourites as holders, last year's final showed that tag does not mean anything," Schmidt said.

Irish sides have won the Heineken Cup three times in the past four years but have not shaken the Six Nations since their 2009 Grand Slam.

Schmidt cannot explain that discrepancy, but suggests Ireland could give the All Blacks a shake in June because they had the advantage of recent matchplay together.