KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks have named seven new caps in the 35-man squad for the tour of Hong Kong, UK and Ireland beginning next week.
Fullback Corey Jane, winger Hosea Gear, loose forwards Scott Waldrom, Kieran Read and Liam Messam and props Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh have all been selected for their first All Blacks squad.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has also recalled winger Joe Rokocoko, hooker Corey Flynn and locks Jason Eaton and Ross Filipo.
Rokocoko and Eaton were left out of the squad earlier in the year because of injury while Flynn and Filipo have not played for the All Blacks since 2004 and 2007 respectively.
"We believe it's a very talented team that we have got for this tour," Henry said.
"We feel we have got the right balance with a nucleus of experienced All Blacks as well as seven new caps, who have shown their class in the Rebel Sport Super 14 and the Air New Zealand Cup, for what will be the most demanding test match tour schedule faced by an All Blacks team in the professional era."
Flankers Messam and Waldrom have been chosen to provide backup for captain Richie McCaw while Read finally won an All Blacks callup after missing selection, when regarded as a certainty, at the end of the Super 14.
Gear was the leading try-scorer in the Air New Zealand Cup, which concluded last night with Canterbury's 7-6 win over Wellington. Jane and Gear were members of an effective Wellington backline whose form has been additionally recognised with the selections of Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu.
Jane's selection comes in the absence of veteran fullback Leon MacDonald, who was unavailable for medical reasons after suffering a severe concussion in the Tri-Nations. Halfback Brendon Leonard was the only other leading player not considered because of injury.
The All Blacks will play five tests in five weeks as well as a midweek match against the European champions Munster. The tour kicks off next Saturday when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in the first-ever off-shore Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong. The team then heads to the United Kingdom and Ireland for matches against Scotland (8 November), Ireland (15 November), Munster (18 November), Wales (22 November) and England (29 November).
All Blacks tour squad
Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Daniel Carter, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Scott Waldrom, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo, Tony Woodcock, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, AP
