Muliaina named All Blacks captain

Tanerau Latimer, Isaac Ross and Wyatt Crocket (clockwise) are the new faces in All Blacks squad captained by Mils Muliaina. Photo / Getty Images

Veteran fullback Mils Muliaina has been named captain of an All Blacks rugby squad that features three new caps to face France and Italy in home test matches next month.

Two Crusaders tight forwards are among the new caps - lock Isaac Ross and prop Wyatt Crocket - along with flanker Tanerau Latimer, who played for the Chiefs in their 61-17 loss to the Bulls in the Super 14 final at Pretoria this morning.

Muliaina, who captained the Chiefs, takes the leadership for the first time from Richie McCaw who is unavailable with a knee injury.

Captain option Rodney So'oialo hasn't been named in the squad, with the veteran Hurricanes No 8 struggling with a neck injury and in need of rehabilitation according to coach Graham Henry.

"Rodney has had an incredibly demanding Super 14 season, starting in 13 of the Hurricanes matches this year and that follows several years of intense, top-level rugby," Henry said.

"We are taking a proactive approach and giving him some time to recover and rehab."

Henry said So'oialo would return to the All Blacks for the Tri-Nations series.

Players not considered due to injury include McCaw (knee), Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Blues lock Anthony Boric (toe), Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis (ribs), Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn (forearm), Hurricanes loose forward Scott Waldrom (back) and Canterbury first five-eighth Daniel Carter (Achilles).

Meanwhile, Hurricanes and Hawke's Bay lock Bryn Evans and Canterbury and Crusaders prop Owen Franks have been called into the wider All Blacks training squad as lock and prop cover.

The All Blacks play France at Dunedin on June 13 and Wellington on June 20 before hosting Italy at Christchurch on June 27.

All Blacks squad
Backs: Mils Muliaina (captain), Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Rudi Wulf, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard

Forwards: Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Isaac Ross, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu.

- NZPA