Five Waikato Players in All Blacks squad named for Iveco Series
2nd June 2009 11:59AM
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have named their squad for the Iveco Series home Tests against France and Italy, with fullback Mils Muliaina to captain the All Blacks and three new caps named in the squad.
Five Waikato players Mils Muliaina, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard and Liam Messam were all named at the weekend.
The squad is:
John Afoa Auckland
Jimmy Cowan Southland
Wyatt Crockett * Canterbury
Stephen Donald Waikato
Andrew Hore Taranaki
Cory Jane Wellington
Richard Kahui Waikato
Jerome Kaino Auckland
Tanerau Latimer * Bay of Plenty
Brendon Leonard Waikato
Keven Mealamu Auckland
Liam Messam Waikato
Mils Muliaina Waikato
Ma'a Nonu Wellington
Kieran Read Canterbury
Josevata Rokocoko Auckland
Isaac Ross * Canterbury
Conrad Smith Wellington
Adam Thomson Otago
Brad Thorn Canterbury
Neemia Tialata Wellington
Isaia Toeava Auckland
Piri Weepu Wellington
Ali Williams Auckland
Tony Woodcock North Harbour
Rudi Wulf North Harbour
* denotes new cap
The three new caps in the 26-strong squad are Crusaders lock Isaac Ross, his Crusaders prop teammate Wyatt Crockett and Chiefs flanker Tanerau Latimer.
"All three players have been in outstanding form in this year's Rebel Sport Super 14 and we feel they are ready for the international stage. I want to congratulate all three on being selected for the All Blacks," Graham Henry said.
All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina, who led his Chiefs team to this year's Rebel Sport Super 14 final, has been named as captain of the All Blacks, replacing the injured Richie McCaw.
"Mils is in the Leaders Group in the All Blacks. He has done a fantastic job as captain of the Chiefs in the Rebel Sport Super 14 and he has a great deal of respect and mana amongst his peers," Henry said.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes and Hawke's Bay lock Bryn Evans and Canterbury and Crusaders prop Owen Franks, who have been named in the Junior All Blacks squad today, have been called into the wider All Blacks training squad as lock and prop cover.
Players not considered due to injury include Crusaders captain Richie 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), as well as Daniel Carter (Achilles).
Henry said Hurricanes captain and All Blacks number eight Rodney So'oialo, who is suffering from neck problems, also wasn't considered for selection for the Iveco Series. One of the leading All Blacks for a number of years, he would be using this time for rehabilitation.
"Rodney has had an incredibly demanding Rebel Sport Super 14 season, starting in 13 of the Hurricanes matches this year and that follows several years of intense, top-level rugby. 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 Investec Tri Nations.
Henry said he and fellow coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen were looking forward to kicking off the international season against the French and Italians.
"France will again be a difficult challenge for the All Blacks. They have picked their strongest squad available and history shows they are often successful against the All Blacks."
Henry also noted that French coach Marc Lievremont, when announcing his French team, had stated that they were coming to New Zealand to win.
"Italy will bring a different challenge. They will be well coached by the very experienced South African coach Nick Mallet and will bring a lot of physicality and scrummaging power to the contest," Henry said.
The first Test in the Iveco Series is in Dunedin on 13 June when the All Blacks play France. The second Test against the French is in Wellington on 20 June, followed by the one-off Test against Italy in Christchurch on 27 June.
Tickets to the Tests are still on sale and cost as little as $20 for children and $40 for adults for the Christchurch Test and $60 for adults for the Dunedin and Wellington Tests.
