Selectors tap into spirit of Cantabs

All Black coach Graham Henry acknowledged yesterday that the selection of the team to play the Lions in the first test in Christchurch on Saturday night followed the most difficult debate the selection panel had held.

He also said they had tried to harness some of the Canterbury spirit.

It made sense to use experienced halfback Justin Marshall, whose intimate knowledge of the local conditions and repeated success with the Crusaders gave him an edge in a tight contest with Byron Kelleher.

"The same with Leon [MacDonald]. But his form was outstanding in the latter part of the Super 12 and he played superbly for the Maori the other day, and that is a form decision really," Henry said.

"But it was very close because Mils Muliaina was probably the star player on the end-of-year tour."

Six Canterbury players have made the starting XV.

Henry said the choice of the side was the most challenging the selectors had been involved in since they started together last year.

Once Anton Oliver was ruled out with his calf muscle injury, the selection of the forwards was not too complicated, but the headaches concerned who to leave out of the backline.

Eventually, Muliaina, Rico Gear and Kelleher were picked in the reserves, with Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu left out of the squad.

Henry would not concede that the panel had been swayed by the thought of how the Christchurch crowd would react if a number of their favourite sons had not made the starting XV.

"I just think it is sensible, logical decision-making by the four selectors for this particular test," he said.

Final decisions about the All Blacks had no correlation with those who had made the Lions test squad. Teams such as the Crusaders, who had won through to the Super 12 playoffs and then taken the title against the Waratahs, would create an advantage for their players.

"It is just natural. I can remember when Auckland were top of the heap. There were a lot of Aucklanders in the team - 14 one year out of 15. I'll just mention that to make me feel better," Henry said.

The panel had chosen to go with Aaron Mauger in midfield, which pushed captain Tana Umaga out one position and eliminated other options of Muliaina, Smith or Nonu at centre.

Mauger gave strong balance to the midfield, backs coach Wayne Smith said.

He was a right-footed kicker to complement the naturally left-footed Daniel Carter. He also had strong distribution skills.

Mauger's selection retained his combination with Marshall and Carter, which had been so effective throughout the Super 12.

"It was very effective and they played the sort of game that we have been trying to play," Smith said. "Mauger has good vision, he has a good kicking game, he is sharp and a good all-round footballer."

The second five-eighths was concussed against Wales and not available for the All Blacks when they beat France comprehensively last year.

But he has the sort of game the All Blacks want to develop. He can also fill in as a first receiver.

"It's an area of the game we are working on with all our midfielders to give us the ability to make defences adjust."

There was a chance the All Blacks would be undercooked going into the series. But Henry noted they had less preparation and no games before they started their programme last season against England.

He was unsure who would make the Lions XV and wryly suggested he had enough trouble picking his own side without having to worry about doing Sir Clive Woodward's job.

Smith added: "The Lions have been probably conservative on tour, but we expect the unexpected on Saturday. They've been working behind a big red fence and will probably pull out some plays we haven't seen."