Photos: All Blacks World Cup squadKEY POINTS:
This is a World Cup squad to do the job in France in October.
The bulk of the names were highly predictable, but I applaud the selectors for picking Sione Lauaki and Andrew Ellis and making it clear they want Greg Somerville as the fourth prop.
Lauaki is
a destructive player, both with and without the ball, but a look at the All Black forwards tells us only Keven Mealamu and Jerry Collins are what I'd call really effective ball runners. Lauaki now makes it three. Sharks coach Dick Muir told me recently that his name would be among the first many South Africans would pencil into their All Black team.
There's no question that when he's up and firing, Lauaki creates genuine fear among opponents.
But there's an intriguing situation developing out of his selection. How will the selectors work their reserve bench?
Lauaki has impact written all over him and the first-choice loose forward trio - Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw and Collins - appear set in stone.
The reserve bench will comprise a hooker, a prop, probably Reuben Thorne to double as lock/blindside flank cover, and Lauaki. That means doing without Chris Masoe, who is the closest backup as an opensider to McCaw. It will be fascinating watching how the selectors work their bench in the big games.
But it's a brave call and one I like. Lauaki's selection meant no room for Troy Flavell and I suspect he played his way out of the squad. Flavell didn't quite grasp his opportunities although, to be fair to him, I'm not convinced he's a lock first, loose forward second, which is how the selectors seemed to view him.
Flavell's failure to move up a gear made the selectors job easy. But the selection is skinny at lock, where the selectors must at the back of their minds have a nagging worry about Keith Robinson's frailty.
Ellis was in the squad last year then lost ground. But Byron Kelleher and Piri Weepu are similar players and Weepu's form has slipped. Brendon Leonard offers a point of difference with his running, although I still maintain coming off the bench is his best role at the moment. Ellis is a tough customer who impressed in the Junior All Blacks campaign and gives the selectors three distinctly different No 9 options.
The panel have been clever with Somerville. They haven't hidden their agenda and he knows where he stands. So does John Schwalger, the next cab off the rank.
Watching the announcement yesterday brought back memories of the naming of the 1987 squad.
I remember the nerves, the waiting, the genuinely not knowing if you'd made it, despite what all the pundits might have said.
We had an ordinary dinner to sit through in Whangarei after the final trial and the live TV announcement, which was a first.
It was not a pleasant experience and fortunately the New Zealand Rugby Union learned from that night and hopefully never repeat it.
As for the Eden Park test, to me it proved you don't need a hatful of tries to make an entertaining test.
I liked much of the All Blacks' work in difficult conditions, and the Wallabies clearly came to play. They were the best possible opposition for the All Blacks at this stage of their campaign.
Much of the All Blacks' handling and pick and drive work was outstanding and their resolve was impressive.
Dan Carter's display was terrific, not just his goalkicking, and ditto the loose forwards, but we should take our hats off to Stephen Larkham and George Gregan, on their final appearances in New Zealand.
They've been coming here for years and are still top-class performers. The way they threw everything at the All Blacks spoke plenty about their qualities as rugby players.
The Aussies will figure, despite the final scoreline, that they are making ground ahead of the World Cup.
But under pressure, especially in the first half, the All Blacks should have learned plenty about themselves at Eden Park.
