Richard Loe: McCaw should miss tour and get his head sorted out

I know Graham Henry is announcing his 32-man All Black team next weekend but Richard Loe's team would have one big difference to Henry's: It may not contain Richie McCaw.

Before anyone questions my mental health or sends me a poisoned leamington cake through the mail, let me say here and now that this is for one reason only - McCaw's disappearance from the Wellington-Canterbury Air NZ Cup quarter-final and the blurry vision complaint.

We all know Richie has a bit of a concussion problem. Now all the others on the November tour - England, Wales and the French (twice) know it too and it's a fair bet he'll get targeted on this tour.

We all know - and have all said - that in spite of the depth-building, we are still in the cactus if the All Blacks are without McCaw and Dan Carter. So I'd leave him at home.

I'd make sure he has a damned good rest and gets his head right and then I'd take him out of the protected group of 22 and let him play Super 14.

I'd say the same thing about any other All Black carrying an injury - like Ali Williams and his neck. It'd be better to leave them behind.

This All Black and NZRU administration have done a lot of talking and acting on player welfare, rotation and reconditioning, all aimed at securing the World Cup.

Well, the World Cup is more important than any of the four tests in November, even if there is a psychological edge at stake - and there is no doubt McCaw can help us win the World Cup.

So you will see that the All Black team I am about to name contains a bracket - McCaw with Marty Holah, whom I believe to be the next best turnover merchant and grabber of ball on the ground in the New Zealand game.

The only other points of contention in my team are: 1) I am selecting only two hookers as I don't think we have three up to grade at the moment 2) Props and locks - someone is going to have to be left out of the talent which has been built up here.

I have only two surprise selections - Waikato's Liam Messam who can, at a pinch cover all three loose forward positions, and Canterbury prop Wyatt Crockett, who has impressed me this season and who could benefit the All Blacks if taken on this tour.

He is big, fast and learning his scrum work well and appears to have more potential than Clarke Dermody, Campbell Johnstone and Saimone Taumoepeau, although Auckland's John Afoa could grab a place if he comes through the Air NZ Cup well enough.

I am omitting Greg Somerville, Troy Flavell and Doug Howlett for injury reasons and James Ryan, Jono Gibbes, Mose Tuiali'i, Anton Oliver, Isaia Toeava and Jimmy Cowan for other reasons.

So my team would be:

Hookers: Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu.

Props: Carl Hayman, Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata, Wyatt Crockett.

Locks: Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Keith Robinson.

Loose forwards: Richie McCaw/Marty Holah, Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Reuben Thorne, Sione Lauaki, Liam Messam.

Halfbacks: Piri Weepu, Byron Kelleher, Andy Ellis.

First-fives: Dan Carter, Nick Evans.

Second-fives: Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister.

Centres: Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith.

Wings: Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko, Rico Gear, Ma'a Nonu.

Fullbacks: Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton.

Some will dispute leaving out Ryan for Robinson but I like his work-rate and the hard edge he gives us.

Even in a 32-man squad, there will be a need for utilities and that is why Nonu is there, plus wing seems to be his most damaging position and Hamilton can play wing, fullback or, at a pinch, centre.