KEY POINTS:
Blues coach Pat Lam opted for experience over youth in choosing his first Super 14 squad.
Finding quality back-up to what will be an All Black-laden first choice XV was always Lam's priority and he has largely plumped for players he knows from his time in charge of
Auckland.
His 28-man squad contains 18 Aucklanders - 19 if Northland's loan prop Tevita Mailau is counted - while North Harbour (six) and Northland (three including Mailau) contribute just nine players between them.
The one loan player is Wellington five-eighths Michael Hobbs, the son of New Zealand Rugby Union chairman and former All Black Jock.
The most notable omission from the squad is Auckland captain Ben Atiga, who made himself unavailable for selection. Blues officials would not confirm why he was not available but he has been linked with a move to Europe, particularly France, for several seasons now.
Promising Auckland loose forwards Dean Budd and Peter Saili were overlooked, as was Northland's livewire loan hooker Francis Smith. All three will be offered wider training group contracts.
With a tough opening to the season that includes away games against the Force, Bulls and Stormers, Lam said experience was the key driver in selecting the squad.
"The big emphasis is on the now and having a team that can win this championship. That is why we have a lot of experience across the board."
Veteran Northland flanker Justin Collins has been persuaded to postpone his retirement, while first five-eighths Tasesa Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth are also old hands.
The poor showing of all three Blues unions in the national championship did not tempt Lam to go extensively to the draft.
"When we looked at the type of team we wanted, the answers were in the region," he said. "When you are selecting a team you don't look at the performance of teams, you look at the individuals and back yourself to make them into a team."
Hobbs, who impressed for Wellington in the early part of the national championship before losing his place for the later rounds, was the lone exception. Able to play in midfield or at first five-eighths, he had been selected primarily as cover for Gopperth and Lavea, backs coach Shane Howarth said.
Lavea's recent run of injuries was undoubtedly a factor in his selection.
The choice of journeymen Lavea and Gopperth to replace Nick Evans and Isa Nacewa in the crucial first five-eighths role will not do much to excite Blues fans, while the selection of Harbour's Chris Smylie as back-up halfback also appears a touch underwhelming.
Howarth, though, said he was "rapt" with the players at his disposal. Auckland's struggles without a recognised first five-eighths had driven home the importance of an experienced playmaker, he said.
"You don't realise how big a spot that is until you lose some experience there. We have got a bit of history with Sess [Lavea]. We have won a couple of championships with him and we know what he is capable of."
Familiarity may be the major theme of the squad but there is room for one player who will be an unknown quantity at Super Rugby level, 21-year-old Northland outside back Rene Ranger.
Lam described Ranger, who has impressed for Northland for several seasons now, as an automatic selection, while Howarth saw him as a player with genuine "x-factor".
"I like the way he plays the game," Howarth said. "He is not carefree but he has a go and in a lot of young players now that gets taken out of them. I like guys that have a go and Rene is not afraid to do that."
There was also a first Super 14 call-up for lock Jay Williams, who will join returning brother Ali in the squad.
Having been overlooked by David Nucifora due to his lightweight frame and also snubbed in the draft last year, Williams described Thursday's call from Lam confirming his selection as "one of the better phone calls I've ever had in my life".
Williams developed into Auckland's premier lineout forward this season but he admitted changing his body shape was an ongoing challenge.
"Everyone tells me to bulk up. That is the story of my life really. I'm working at it."
Collins, who had flirted with retirement and insists this will be his last hurrah, made himself available after a call from Lam three weeks ago. He did not believe the failure of the franchise's unions to make the national championship finals would affect the Blues' chances. "If anything I think we are in a better position because of the way the NPC teams underperformed.
"Maybe there won't be so much expectation and pressure and the guys can just get out there and enjoy it and play the game. Anything can happen then. In my experience if you arein a good head-space upstairs and people aren't putting all this undue pressure on you then teams perform well."
