All Blacks: Selections brighten the mix

Hawkes Bay's Zac Guildford is 'pretty much a complete player' according to All Black selector Wayne Smith. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Those holding the view that the days of the genuine All Black selection surprise had been consigned to sit alongside square-toed boots, halftime oranges and touch judges in blazers as museum pieces might have gone a touch misty-eyed yesterday.

Four players yet to appear for their country were called up for the six-game tour to Japan, Britain and France starting next week.

And if Hawkes Bay's boom winger Zac Guildford had shifted from medium-odds chance to short-priced fancy in the last couple of weeks, what about Otago fullback-cum-wing Ben Smith, who would have been a genuine Ben Who? to many north of Gore?

Add in Bay of Plenty's impressive first five-eighths Mike Delany and there is a genuine freshness to the back division of 15.

How much game time that trio, and the other new All Black, midfield back Tamati Ellison - who has done time in the wider training squad - actually get is another matter. But the fact that the selectors, Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, have brightened up the mix is pleasing.

For Guildford, in particular, it will have been a day redolent with emotion.

The 20-year-old was helping New Zealand win the world under-20 championship in June in Tokyo when his father, Rob, died in the grandstand. Guildford made a vow, backed it with top class performances and yesterday was rewarded.

There was no emotion in the selection, however, his form, including an Air New Zealand Cup-leading 13 tries, making him a compelling choice in hard practical terms.

Henry did wax lyrical on Guildford in comparing him to All Black wing great John Kirwan for his ability to be in the right place.

"He and Ben Smith have the skill set we believe is needed in the modern game," Henry said yesterday.

"Mike Delany was selected on form. We like his positiveness, he's a good kicker and has the ability to counter-attack."

Joe Rokocoko is the biggest backline casualty, his form having lacked the spark of other years. He has been sent off with what the panel call "work-ons" to get back into the frame.

His regular wing partner Sitiveni Sivivatu holds his place despite having been sidelined for several weeks by injury. He has been chosen largely on trust, backed by medical advice that he is progressing well.

The key forward selections include the return of Liam Messam from the wilderness, having turned in strong form leading Waikato to the brink of the championship semifinals, after one test in June against France; Corey Flynn returning as sole hooking backup to incumbent Andrew Hore, despite his left arm having broken twice in the past 12 months; and Tanerau Latimer nailing down the openside flanker support role behind captain Richie McCaw.

Messam had been told to work on his ball maintenance and one-on-one tackling and had come through strongly.

There is a message there for those who have missed out, Henry said: put simply, do the homework and you can get back in the frame.

Lock Isaac Ross, as had been foreshadowed, stays home to bulk up. Despite being wanted for eight straight tests this year, he has been fingered as having weaknesses in scrummaging and cleaning out at the breakdowns.

The selectors described the job of settling on their 33 players as the toughest they have gone through, loaded with robust discussions.

The final three positions, which were not identified, were apparently not settled on until the weekend. One possible hint came in Henry's high praise of Latimer's seven turnovers for Bay of Plenty against Manawatu on Friday night, and pointing out that he was a step ahead of rivals George Whitelock and Karl Lowe - "and he proved that over the weekend".

Considering several players were not considered through injury, it bodes well for a fascinating Super 14 next year, with the World Cup a few months' closer, and the clock ticking.

All 33 players would get a start on tour, Henry said, and there was a veiled reference to the older lags, such as loose forward Rodney So'oialo, in essence to show they still have the form to be viable contenders for 2011.

"There are a number of guys in the side who have been with the All Blacks for some time. We need to make sure those selections are right going forward," Henry said.

There is no third hooker, the balance of the pack calling for an extra loose forward, the panel believed. That brings the intriguing prospect of props John Afoa or Tony Woodcock doing a spot of lineout throwing-in if things get sticky in any of the five tests or Barbarians end-of-tour fixture.

And the coaching staff will don different bibs on tour. Henry is to take the forwards, Smith, the usual attack-minded overseer, will work on the defence, and Hansen the attack.

Those changes were done in consultation with a group of senior players. "I think it's exciting," Henry said. "We aren't going to change the blueprints of what we've been working on for a number of years."

All Blacks squad

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Ma'a Nonu, Luke McAlister, Dan Carter, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard, Andy Ellis

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam, Jason Eaton, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn