Anton Oliver - Cometh the hour, cometh the man

By WYNNE GRAY

Anton Oliver had been fingered as the man to lead the All Blacks into the next World Cup in 2003.

The intention was to ease him into the job, but that planning was brought forward yesterday when the 25-year-old hooker was picked to take over from Todd Blackadder.

"We always thought Anton would be the man to lead the All Blacks at the World Cup but we also know he is ready now," coach Wayne Smith said.

Oliver had to be. His time had come just as Blackadder's had gone.

A number of factors contributed to Blackadder's exit.

His contribution was not as prominent as other locks in the Super 12 and the All Black panel felt he would be disadvantaged under the new maul law being used from June 1.

"That law means ball from lineouts and kickoff is absolutely critical because you can set mauls from that," Smith said. "With Royce [Willis] and Todd, I think that told on their selection."

Among a number of difficult decisions, Smith accepted that picking his locks was perhaps the most exacting.

Willis and Dion Waller had been unlucky, and while the successful All Black quartet were also the biggest, they had shown they could win ball all over the park.

The 30-strong group to prepare for the opening tests, against Samoa, Argentina and France, are a mix of form players and those whose selection relied more on historical evidence.

There has still been a serious cull, with Alama Ieremia, Josh Kronfeld, Blackadder, Craig Dowd, Filo Tiatia, Kees Meeuws, Mark Robinson, Bruce Reihana, Daryl Gibson, Jason O'Halloran, Greg Feek and Carlos Spencer gone from those used in 2000.

Five who played in the All Blacks' last test, against Italy - Reihana, Spencer, Tiatia, Blackadder and Feek - have been bypassed.

Seven players have made the squad for the first time, four of them from the improving Chiefs franchise.

The newcomers are Roger Randle, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Marty Holah, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack and Carl Hayman.

"I think there will be a lot of competition because we have specialists in a lot of positions," Smith said, referring to the group's first training camp at Palmerston North on June 2.

"We want to put a lot of heat on these guys."

Selection, as usual was a balancing act.

This time the panel had to weigh up the form of new players, the need for experience and the 2003 World Cup target.

"We have got to have a strategic look at that, but we also have a responsibility to win today.

"There is a now and a future about these things," Smith added.

"New faces will always crop up because of our top Colts and under-19 sides, there is no doubt about that, but the skill is to see that the young ones who are chosen now will develop and get there."

One of those new men is Jerry Collins, the all-purpose Wellington loose forward who has been picked as a No 8 and blindside flanker. His work-rate, high tackle count, support play and hard mental attitude demanded his inclusion.

Marty Holah was another in the same category.

His work was all about serving the team and he had been consistently solid at the breakdown.

"He also understands attack from second-phase too, and that is very encouraging," Smith said.

On the wing, Roger Randle was a linebreaker, a different player who had real speed, while former All Black lock Mark Cooksley had shown a renewed hunger and superb ball-winning work.

A number of fringe players had been chosen, but they had performed well for the All Blacks in the past.

"They showed a fitness requirement, off the ball they worked hard and not everything went their way. But we know they want to be good All Blacks," Smith said.

Like the rest of the group they will come under some intense pressure at the opening training camp.

"We want to see who can hack it."

All Black training squad:

Backs: Christian Cullen, Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson, Roger Randle, Tana Umaga, Keith Lowen, Pita Alatini, Mark Ranby, Andrew Mehrtens, Tony Brown, Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher.
Forwards: Ron Cribb, Jerry Collins, Marty Holah, Scott Robertson, Reuben Thorne, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Mark Cooksley, Greg Somerville, Gordon Slater, Carl Hoeft, Cark Hayman, Mark Hammett, Anton Oliver (capt).

Maori squad:

Backs: Rhys Duggan, Brendan Haami, Carlos Spencer, Glen Jackson, Daryl Gibson, Rua Tipoki, Caleb Ralph, Roger Randle, Bruce Reihana, Brad Fleming, Leon MacDonald.
Forwards: Kees Meeuws, Greg Feek, Deacon Manu, Slade McFarland, Norm Hewitt, Mark Cooksley, Norm Maxwell, Dion Waller, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Matua Parkinson, Deon Muir (captain), Ron Cribb.