KEY POINTS:
Blues-bound Auckland rugby coach Pat Lam today named new seven new faces in the squad tasked with defending the national provincial title and the Ranfurly Shield this season.
Lam, who will have five matches in charge before taking control of the Blues Super 14 franchise on September 1, has had to replace 15 players missing from the squad who ended last year's Air NZ Cup unbeaten - a whopping 619 games worth of experience, and nine All Blacks.
The forward pack features just one All Black, 2003 World Cup flanker Daniel Braid, who is currently training with the Tri-Nations squad in Dunedin.
Lam has ushered in a host of youngsters to the pack, including recent under-20 world championship-winning prop Paea Fa'anunu and flanker Peter Saili, and was confident an inexperienced unit would step up.
"I'm convinced we've got the talent in Auckland and this region but we lose experience and that's the challenge for us as coaches to get these guys as well equipped as possible," said Lam, who will be replaced by an as yet unnamed successor after the round five game against Waikato on August 30.
In the backs, former Southland representative Watisoni Lotawa and Auckland club player Jarek Goebel are the new faces.
The departure overseas of Isa Nacewa and Nick Evans, who signed for Auckland but never played for the province before signing for English club Harlequins, leaves Lachie Munro, 21, as the only specialist first five-eighth in the squad.
Auckland's season starts when they take the Ranfurly Shield to Gisborne for a defence against Poverty Bay next Tuesday.
Presumably, they will then take the trophy to Oamaru for a second non-championship defence against North Otago a week later.
The All Blacks contingent who have either retired or moved offshore include Steve Devine, Sam Tuitupou, Brad Mika, Angus Macdonald, Ali Williams, Derren Witcombe, Saimone Taumoepeau, Doug Howlett and Troy Flavell.
Meanwhile, injured prop Chris Heard and flanker Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a are likely to be added to the 26-man squad once they recover.
Auckland squad:
Forwards: Nick White, Charlie Faumuina, Tevita Mailau, Paea Fa'anunu, Tom McCartney, Paulisa Manu, Jay Williams, Stanley Haukinima, Dean Budd, Kurtis Haiu, Anthony Elisala, Chris Lowery, Peter Saili, Daniel Braid.
Backs: Taniela Moa, Grayson Hart, Lachie Munro, Benson Stanley, Winston Stanley, Ben Atiga, Jarek Goebel, David Smith, Isaia Toeava, Chris Mahoney, Watisoni Lotawa, Mikaele Pesamino.
- NZPA
