All Blacks: Welcome back, see you later

Dumped All Black Liam Messam has been told to work on aspects of his game that 'cost test matches'. Photo / Getty Images

As one All Black came in from the cold, Jason Eaton, Liam Messam was sent back there with specific instructions to improve the aspects of his game that "cost test matches".

Jason Eaton, 26, played the last of his 10 tests in Paris three years ago but makes his way into the side in part because of his versatility.

"What Jason gives us is the ability to play at No 6, at a pinch. He's played three games during the Junior All Blacks campaign at No 6, which we asked the coaches to do," coach Graham Henry said.

"He's got very good anticipation. He's a good, general footballer. Around the field he catches and passes well, gets into the right positions and those sort of things.

"Where we have found him a bit questionable in the past is at kick-off and when he calls the lineouts he doesn't call himself. He needs to have more confidence in his own ability."

Eaton's primary role will be to add some experience to a locking trio – Brad Thorn, Bryn Evans and Isaac Ross – that has 32 caps among them, 27 belonging to the impressive Thorn.

It's a situation that Henry, suddenly pulling a mind game from his bag of tricks, believes will have the Springboks and Wallabies "licking their lips" in anticipation.

"The All Blacks have been good enough to win the past four Tri Nations and that's going to be hugely motivational for the other two teams.

New Zealand has held the Bledisloe Cup for the past six years and they'll [the Wallabies] be desperate to get a bit of silverware.

"The Australian and South African sides have built on their experience of last year whereas I think I counted, when I woke up in the early hours of this morning, seven or eight forwards who are playing virtually in their first year in the All Blacks. They'll be licking their lips I think… which is a good thing."

Yesterday's news was not so good for Messam, who in contrast to Eaton, might need to have a little less confidence in his ability if he wants to cut out the sort of mistakes the selectors believe are plaguing his game.

"We are always concerned about the fine skills. If you want to analyse that test match [against France], you'll know why he hasn't been selected. He missed crucial tackles and turned the ball over, which cost us points. At test match level you just can't afford to do that," Henry said.

"When you get Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Rodney So'oialo and Richie McCaw, who are going to be the guts of the loose forwards right through the Tri Nations, how much rugby is he going to play?

"So you say to Liam, who we've got a huge amount of time for as a member of the group, 'You've got to fix these things up, you just can't turn the ball over and miss crucial tackles'. He's got some things that win games, but he's got some things that lose games and that's the disappointment for us, and I'm sure the disappointment for him.

"At this level, you just can't afford to have guys making errors that cost you, because you'll lose the test match. It might be great to watch but All Blacks can't afford to lose too often. You noticed the reaction when we lost to France.

"It doesn't matter if you win 85 per cent of your test matches, those 15 per cent cause a lot of pain. We're aware of that, understand that and totally agree with that expectation; we don't want to lose test matches but it happens because other teams are better than you sometimes.

"You've got to accept that but you have to pick sides that aren't going to add to that percentage of loss and you've got to pick players that way too. When it's an obvious problem you've got to fix it otherwise you can't play at that level."

There was no place for Lelia Masaga, either, following a so-so debut against Italy.

Hosea Gear, a Grand Slam tourist, was preferred after a starring role with the Junior All Blacks at the Pacific Nations Cup.

"Lelia came back and played on half a leg in the second half of the Super 14, didn't play much, came back on the track against Italy and looked short of a gallop. He needs to go back and play."

All Blacks squad
Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Luke McAlister, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard

Forwards Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Jason Eaton, Isaac Ross, Bryn Evans, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Aled de Malmanche.