Wynne Gray: All Black bus keeps growing bigger

Crusaders lock Sam Whitelock has shown all the aggression, power and lineout skills to earn an All Blacks call-up. Photo / Getty Images

Every season since their 2004 appointment, the All Black selectors have managed to expand their squad. There were men on the mend, those needing to smell the culture or others on standby in case of anything.

The cutoff is supposed to be 26 when the first squad is revealed on Sunday but it will surprise if there are not a few others named to turn up for the opening training camp in Auckland next Thursday.

My selection is restricted to 26 players. Form, statistics, instinct and gut feeling? You betcha because the All Black selectors operate on a similar wavelength.

Not considered are injured Andrew Hore, Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Ma'a Nonu, Isaia Toeava, Mike Delany and Sitiveni Sivivatu while Tamati Ellison, Anthony Tuitavake and Daniel Bowden are heading overseas.

Utility wing Ben Smith and lock Bryn Evans were examples last year of the selectors' beliefs.

Coach Graham Henry has stoked the fires of curiosity this season with hints there will be new faces when the squad is unveiled at Mt Albert Grammar.

Who? Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger or Colin Slade for the midfield vacancy, Kahn Fotuali'i or Alby Mathewson at halfback or the abrasive talents of Victor Vito and Sam Whitelock in the pack?

And what of those coming back from injury?

Mils Muliaina has an 82-test pedigree and is easing back into club football after a serious hand injury and Tom Donnelly is returning to work after showing he was not overawed on the tour to Europe late last year.

Corey Flynn has suited up again at hooker after another injury-ravaged season and needs to be rated against Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot and perhaps John Afoa as backup to Keven Mealamu.

So here goes. Puff of white smoke, job done, with a few concessions to selectorial whims. The big problem is second five-eighths. Benson Stanley has been the most reliable this season, far sounder than an underdone Luke McAlister or a steady Callum Bruce.

But Muliaina and Richard Kahui are explosive athletes, versatile and strong defenders and one will slip into the midfield vacancy and the other into the reserves.

Muliaina starts in my team where he can guide the side from midfield, use his proven passing, acceleration and growing kicking skills to reinforce the defences.

That allows the in-form Cory Jane to start at fullback with the speed, defensive clout and kicking skills needed on the wings coming from Rudi Wulf and Zac Guildford.

The tests will be at night, usually in tough conditions and the opposition will kick much more than Super 14 sides. Therefore Joe Rokocoko's improvement will have to be measured against those flaws which counted against him last season.

The dependable Conrad Smith is centre, Daniel Carter first five-eighths with halfback the next issue.

The basic template remains the same. Someone who can pass quickly from the deck, kick, cover-defend and who must have a running game. My halfback must play by instinct, he must sense when to snipe and challenge fringe ruck defenders, he cannot play by numbers.

Lively halfback Kahn Fotuali'i fits those criteria the best. He plays with his head up, he pays attention to the basics and offers variety too.

Alby Mathewson is similarly potent and beats out the experienced Jimmy Cowan, who is dependable but has a slower delivery and combustible temperament.

Rip into the pack and new lock Sam Whitelock has shown all the aggression, power, lineout skills and temperament to bind alongside senior statesman Brad Thorn.

Sorting out the blindsiders is the trickiest job but in a squad of 26 there is room for all three, while the Franks brothers must be rewarded for strong propping all year with their colleague Colin Slade offering the versatility to cover most backline positions and goalkicking from the bench.

Wynne Gray's form XV
Cory Jane, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Mils Muliaina, Rudi Wulf, Daniel Carter, Kahn Fotuali'i, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves
Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Anthony Boric, Victor Vito, Alby Mathewson, Colin Slade, Richard Kahui.

Others
Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson, Stephen Donald, Ben Smith.