KEY POINTS:
David Kidwell seems the only exception to Gary Kemble's rule against players joining the Kiwis side based on reputation.
Yesterday 30-year-old Kidwell was named in the extended Kiwis touring party alongside Epalahame Lauaki, Greg Eastwood, Thomas Leuluai and Sam Perrett for the upcoming three-test series against Great Britain and the one-off test with France.
All five will play for the All Golds in a fortnight in the centenary match against the Northern Unions.
Without Sonny Bill Williams, Benji Marshall, Nathan Cayless, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Motu Tony, David Fa'alogo and Iosia Soliola, Kemble has emphasised form rather than reputation in selecting his first Kiwis squad.
It has meant there are nine newcomers among the 24-strong party. They have played only 123 tests between them, at an average of five, with only Kidwell (24) having played more than 20 tests.
He was added after playing only 26 minutes in Souths' last game of the season following major knee surgery. Kidwell injured the knee in April and missed the Anzac test.
It is also a distinctly NRL-based squad, as only Shontayne Hape and Thomas Leuluai have been plucked out of the UK Super League. It is a young side, with the average age just 23.5 years.
Kemble and the selectors could have turned to a few old hands to bolster their stocks but, because the World Cup is only 12 months away, they felt such a move would have been a backward step.
"Just because someone's got a name, they're not going to get in the team," Kemble said.
A good example is Jason Cayless, a regular feature of Kiwi teams since his debut in 2002. The St Helens prop will play for the All Golds and will remain on standby for the tour but he missed out to Roy Asotasi, Sam Rapira, Fuifui Moimoi and Jeff Lima.
"Is Jason up with those guys?" Kemble pondered. "At the moment, we don't think he is."
Lauaki and Eastwood were added for their impact and utility value while Perrett was an obvious selection as backup at fullback with Webb due to go in for groin surgery after playing in next weekend's UK Super League grand final. Leuluai offers more cover in the halves.
One tipped for selection but who missed out was exciting Souths hooker Isaac Luke. The 20-year-old was in dynamic form after making his NRL debut in round 12 and became a regular for the Rabbitohs.
"We just don't think he's ready yet," Kemble explained. "He was there or thereabouts but we just think he needs another season."
There is still uncertainty, however, over centre Steve Matai.
He has been cleared to play against Australia despite an assertion by Manly that he needs a shoulder operation immediately. A decision on his involvement on the tour has not yet been made.
"At this stage, it could be beneficial for all parties that he has the operation because, with the World Cup next year, we don't want to be mucking around either," Kemble said.
Full Kiwis squad: Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi (c), Luke Covell, Greg Eastwood, David Faiumu, Dene Halatau, Shontayne Hape, Krisnan Inu, David Kidwell, Epalahame Lauaki, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima, Simon Mannering, Steve Matai, Fuifui Moimoi, Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard, Sam Rapira, Ben Roberts, Jeremy Smith, Jeremy Smith, Chase Stanley, Taniela Tuiaki, Paul Whatuira.
