By WYNNE GRAY
The announcement of a widely revamped All Blacks touring side seemed to arrive with some serious silence around the greater Auckland region.
With just wing Doug Howlett chosen from the vast number of players in the country's largest city - until Mark Robinson earned a reprieve when Justin Marshall failed a fitness test - there seemed to be little reaction.
Maybe Auckland will claim three representatives after Byron Kelleher and Kees Meeuws officially transferred last month to join Howlett in the blue and white strip.
There were a few questions from North Harbour about the absence of Robinson, Matua Parkinson, Tony Woodcock and Rico Gear.
Murmurings came from Auckland about how Carlos Spencer could be overlooked, especially after one of his strongest rivals, Tony Brown, was injured.
There was also curiosity about the view from All Blacks coach John Mitchell that he wanted to see Spencer develop as a fullback. That hardly offered Spencer an easy pathway to the national squad, with Leon MacDonald and Ben Blair installed for this trip to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina, and the injured Christian Cullen set to return next season.
But the noise was hardly a yowl of indignation, a crescendo of criticism or vibrant displeasure.
It was almost like Auckland accepted their selection fate. It seemed there was that sort of acquiescence throughout the rest of the country as well.
There was an occasional hotspot, like the discussion about Cullen and the puzzling reluctance of the selectors to announce a list of unavailable players.
The choice of Brad Thorn as a lock/blindside flanker was most unusual, if only because of his lack of matchplay. He certainly had some potential, but his selection seemed to have the smell of trying to keep him in rugby when he was considering moving back to league in Australia.
While Blair and Tom Willis are fine young prospects, there has to be something wrong with the rest of the country if provincial reserves can make the All Blacks.
There were a number of other players picked whose pedigree, in times of All Black strength, would be dissected more vigorously.
Some like Jerry Collins, who was injured and went off the boil in the NPC; Nathan Mauger, who was a great finisher but had some sloppy rough edges to his work; Meeuws, who was impressive round the park but tuned up in scrums; Marty Holah and Simon Maling, who have been scarcely more than steady.
Injuries and non-selection mean there will be a rearrangement of the test XV, with regulars Jeff Wilson, Marshall, Ron Cribb, Troy Flavell, Taine Randell and Carl Hoeft not on this trip.
Several others could be missing for what will be a rigorous opening test tomorrow week against Ireland.
Mitchell said nothing less than a flawless record would be acceptable on this trip. It is a heck of a start and the finish will be no easier playing Argentina in Buenos Aires.
All Blacks 2001 test schedule/scoreboard
All Blacks/Maori squads for 2001
<i>Up and under:</i> Listen to the sounds of silence over the All Blacks selection
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.