KEY POINTS:
Piri Weepu's exile from the All Blacks is set to continue after the Wellington rugby halfback was overlooked for a 25-man group selected to attend a three-day camp in Auckland starting today.
Jimmy Cowan, who also missed the cut for the World Cup last year, and Brendon Leonard
are the two halfbacks attending while Andy Ellis of the Crusaders is also in contention for the 26-man squad being named on Sunday for upcoming tests against Ireland and England.
Ellis and a number of his Crusaders teammates are expected to figure providing they emerge unscathed from the Super 14 final against the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday.
Weepu, whose Super 14 campaign ended with the Hurricanes semifinal defeat to the Crusaders last weekend, has been on the outer since All Blacks management expressed concerns about his fitness and attitude shortly before the World Cup squad were finalised.
He played the last of his 20 tests against South Africa in June last year.
Cowan has also been reprimanded more recently after being charged with disorderly conduct following the Highlanders' Super 14 match with the Blues this month.
Meanwhile, the retirement yesterday of Jerry Collins leaves the blindside flanker position up for grabs - although coach Graham Henry today admitted the 48-test veteran was battling to retain his place anyway.
Henry confirmed the 27-year-old would not have been named on Sunday, clearing the path for the Kieran Read or Jerome Kaino to succeed Collins for the tests against Ireland and England.
Otago loose forward and former New Zealand sevens representative Adam Thomson has been invited to the camp in recognition of his efforts for the struggling Highlanders this season.
Other uncapped players included in the group are North Harbour lock/loose forward Anthony Boric, Otago lock Tom Donnelly, Waikato lock Kevin O'Neill, first five-eighth Stephen Donald, centre Richard Kahui, North Harbour centre Anthony Tuitavake, wing Rudi Wulf and Canterbury utility back Paul Williams, who was drafted to the Highlanders this season.
All Blacks training squad:
John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Kevin O'Neill (Waikato), John Schwalger (Wellington), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Paul Williams (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour).
- NZPA