KEY POINTS:
Three years ago Scott Waldrom was starting to think about life outside rugby. He still had the passion for his sport but a chronic foot injury was not healing and his mind started to ponder the alternatives.
Primary school teaching crossed his radar but Waldrom persisted and tonight
his international rugby education begins when he leaves as a new All Black in the group heading for an opening test against the Wallabies in Hong Kong and the latest tilt at another Grand Slam.
The 28-year-old has been chosen as the openside deputy to skipper Richie McCaw, beating off challenges from Tanerau Latimer and George Whitelock, to be one of the seven new caps in the 35-strong touring squad.
"He [Waldrom] has always shown a lot of X-factor, he is quick, he has got good skills, he played well in the Super 14 particularly later on," coach Graham Henry said. "He gives us some real presence at the breakdown, he turns over a lot of ball there, he has got good skill there with his hands and gets to a lot of places others can't because he is so quick."
New All Blacks in the party are the Wellington duo of Corey Janes and Hosea Gear while Kieran Read, Liam Messam and Waldrom are first-timers in the looseforward brigade, Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh make it as rookie frontrowers.
Halfback Andy Ellis and prop John Afoa have been included although their tour longevity may depend on further medical tests on their damaged knees. Fullback Mils Muliaina's departure date is on hold as he prepares for the birth of his first child.
Senior prop Greg Somerville will remain on standby for the first test this Saturday before he takes up his new club contract in England.
All Blacks used this season who missed the cut were wing Rudi Wulf, looseforward Sione Lauaki and prop John Schwalger. Others like Leon MacDonald, Paul Williams, Brendon Leonard, Chris Masoe, Kevin O'Neill, Daniel Braid and Taniela Moa who have been with the squad have been overlooked or are injured.
Coach Henry said the bulk of the squad had been sorted for a while but some players such as lock Ross Filipo had overtaken Wellington teammate Jeremy Thrush in the run to the domestic provincial final.
"We are comfortable it is a strong team with lots of experience and we can build others round that," Henry said. "It is an exciting group and we are confident they will play well."
They would face strong challenges starting with the Wallabies, while Ireland were competitive in New Zealand this year, Wales were the Six Nations champions and England were always a tough proposition at home.
The tour would offer chances for the new looseforwards such as Messam, identified by Henry as a very exciting player who "gets lots of touches", and Read who had served his apprenticeship, could play No 8 or blindside, was a strong lineout option and had led Canterbury well to their first division triumph.
It had been tough to leave out Lauaki but as forwards coach Steve Hansen explained, the looseforward would be "the first to admit his form was not as consistent or as high" as it needed to be for international level. It was time for him to go away, and make a full-blooded return next year in the Super 14.
Franks at tighthead and Mackintosh on the loosehead side of the scrum were future test frontrowers who would learn a great deal on this expedition and were on the verge of starting long international careers.
Backs coach Wayne Smith thought Jane had the pace and skills to cover wing as well as fullback but would not confirm he would make his test debut at fullback against the Wallabies if Muliaina was still in New Zealand on babywatch.
The utility claims of Isaia Toeava were an alternative with the side due to be announced in Hong Kong late tomorrow.
Gear's form, said Smith, had been quite outstanding throughout the national championship and demanded his inclusion in the squad to follow his elder brother Rico, who played his last All Black test against the Wallabies in Melbourne last year.
Other youngsters such as Tim Bateman had pushed hard for a place but were battling selection congestion in midfield where Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Daniel Carter and Toeava Isaia were all rated.
Henry and his coaching crew leave for this trip with two defeats in 10 outings this year and a record of 50 test wins and eight defeats since they took over the All Blacks in 2004. The only international they have lost in Europe in that time was the controversial World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff last season.
Referee Wayne Barnes, who was blamed in many quarters in New Zealand for that loss, will control an All Black test for the first time since that controversial defeat when he takes charge of the test against Scotland.
All Blacks squad:
Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Daniel Carter, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Scott Waldrom, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo, Tony Woodcock, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn.