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The All Blacks selectors have named three bolters in Mike Delany, Zac Guildford and Ben Smith for their end of year tour to Japan and Europe.
The All Blacks squad features 18 forwards and 15 backs and will again be captained by Richie McCaw.
The new caps in the squad are 27-year-old Bay of Plenty first five-eighth Delany, 20-year-old Hawkes Bay winger Guildford, 23-year-old Otago fullback / wing Smith and as expected 26-year-old Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, who was assembled with the All Blacks during this years Tri Nations, but has been officially selected in an All Blacks squad for the first time.
The versatile Smith makes the All Blacks after just his third season of Air New Zealand Cup rugby. He made his debut for the Highlanders this year and also played alongside fellow All Black Owen Franks in the 2007 New Zealand Under 21 side.
The experienced Delany, who also plays fullback, made his provincial debut in 2005 and his Super 14 debut last year. He has played 52 matches for Bay of Plenty and is the leading points scorer in this years Air New Zealand Cup.
Guildford has had a stellar season this year, playing for the Hurricanes, the world champion New Zealand Under 20 team and Hawkes Bay, and is the leading try scorer in this years Air New Zealand Cup, with 13 tries.
The skilled Ellison is well-known to the All Blacks coaches, impressing during his time with the squad this year, and his ability to cover several positions has made him invaluable for his Wellington and Hurricanes teams.
The All Blacks squad also features the return of Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn, who fractured his arm on last years Grand Slam tour, his Canterbury teammate, halfback Andy Ellis, who suffered a rib injury on the same tour, and North Harbour lock Anthony Boric, who returned to rugby this year after a toe injury. Waikato captain Liam Messam is also recalled after being dropped after the first Test defeat to France in June.
Players not considered for selection due to injury include: Piri
Weepu (ankle), Isaia Toeava (pelvis), Lelia Masaga (shoulder),
Keven Mealamu (chest), Bryn Evans (back), Richard Kahui (shoulder)
and Ali Williams (Achilles).
The tour squad only has two hookers - Flynn and Andrew Hore -
to accomadate extra loose forward to be selected. John Afoa
and Tony Woodcock have been earmarked as throwing options to the
lineout if there are injuries.
Notable omissions include Joe Rokocoko, Rudi Wulf, Hosea Gear, Aled
de Malmanche, Isaac Ross, Colin Slade and George Whitelock.
"I would like to congratulate all those players picked,
especially the new caps," All Blacks coach Graham Henry
said.
"The selectors were impressed by the high standard of play in the
Air New Zealand Cup and that is reflected in the selection of
players who have been stand-outs in the competition."
Henry said the All Blacks had two objectives for the tour.
"Firstly, we want to play quality rugby that we are proud of. Secondly, the tour is the opportunity for players to put their hand up when it comes to selection for the All Blacks in the future."
The All Blacks squad will assemble in Auckland for a training camp this week before flying out to Tokyo next Sunday 25 October. A public training and autograph session to raise funds for the Tsunami Relief Fund will be held at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, on Wednesday at 11.00am.
All Blacks: John Afoa ( Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Cory Jane (Wellington), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Liam Messam (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Ben Smith (Otago) , Conrad Smith (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
