Howlett and Sivivatu chosen to face England

LONDON - Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu have won the race for the wing berths as All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry combines the best of his best to face England at Twickenham on Sunday (NZT).

Hooker Anton Oliver has lost out to injury again.

Eight of the team who started against Wales and seven from the Ireland match have made Henry's top starting 15 after Oliver was today ruled out due to a bruised calf muscle suffered at a low-key training session last Friday.

The biggest surprises are the wing selections, with Howlett and Sivivatu's two-try heroics against Ireland enough for them to head off what appeared to be the top combination of Rico Gear and Joe Rokocoko.

Aaron Mauger and captain Tana Umaga are reunited in the midfield with Conrad Smith missing out, Byron Kelleher pipped Piri Weepu to the No 9 jersey and Ma'a Nonu was left out of the reserves as he faces a hearing tomorrow for an alleged spear tackle against Ireland.

"It's the most difficult team we've had to pick as selectors," Henry said.

"Across the board we have guys who are playing outstanding rugby. For example, Rico Gear scored a hat-trick against Wales and can't get in the team."

Oliver could well have been the favoured starting hooker ahead of Keven Mealamu, but instead his injury confirmed 2005 as a year to forget for the former All Blacks captain.

Having missed the Lions series and Tri-Nations with a mystery calf/achilles injury, he played his first test of the year against Wales in Cardiff before injuring the calf muscle on his other leg.

Henry and his fellow selectors Wayne Smith, Steve Hansen and Sir Brian Lochore had the happy headache of tossing up for the starting wingers, all among the world's best.

They plumped for Howlett, rewarding him with a 50th test cap after an impressive effort against Ireland. He regularly looked for work in Dublin and went within a bootlace of a third try.

Sivivatu wrested the No 11 jersey off his cousin Joe Rokocoko who had few chances against Wales. Sivivatu scored a confidence-boosting double in Dublin after missing the Tri-Nations due to a leg injury and form.

Midfield was another tight call, with Mauger's outstanding distribution against Ireland gaining him the nod alongside Umaga, who seems more comfortable wearing 13 than 12.

The forwards picked themselves after Oliver's injury, with flanker Richie McCaw not training due to a minor calf injury but given the all-clear for the weekend.

Lock Ali Williams said after the 41-3 win over Wales and 45-7 over Ireland, they were still nowhere near happy.

"We are quite critical of each other. We were a bit disappointed in certain areas," he said.

"What Graham and the coaching staff has done has been pretty brave, and it's come off. We have two teams at the moment and to pick one is quite a tough job.

"We're always looking to better ourselves -- if you walk off thinking you've played the perfect game then what more could you want to do in your career? I don't think a team will ever play the perfect game."

The reserves bench wasn't yet confirmed, with Weepu nursing a foot injury and lock Jason Eaton some bruising from his debut against Ireland.

Fellow lock James Ryan was unavailable due to his ongoing knee injury which he suffered against Wales.

New Zealand:
Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga (captain), Aaron Mauger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves:
Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jason Eaton, Mose Tuiali'i, Piri Weepu, Joe Rokocoko, Leon MacDonald.

- NZPA