All Blacks selectors sprung two surprises in the World Cup squad announced on Sunday with the recall of Andy Ellis and Sione Lauaki at the expense of Piri Weepu and Troy Flavell.
Richie McCaw will captain the squad in which selectors have gone for a 16 forwards, 14 backs split, but only named a 29-man squad.
A place has been left open for prop Greg Somerville if he can make a satisfactory recovery from Achilles tendon surgery which has kept him out of Test rugby for 10 months.
It is the most experienced squad New Zealand has ever sent to a World Cup with Byron Kelleher and Reuben Thorne on their third campaign and, if Somerville is selected, there will be 15 survivors from 2003.
Apart from the dumping of Weepu and Flavell the squad is largely as expected with most players from the Tri-Nations series — which the All Blacks won, beating Australia 26-12 in Saturday’s finale — staying in favour.
Imposing loose forward Sione Lauaki has been included after missing the Tri-Nations because of injury, and with Thorne favoured as a utility man who can double at flanker or lock, there was no room for Flavell.
Only three specialist locks have been chosen, but they include Ali Williams who has not played since breaking his jaw against France last month, and the injury prone Keith Robinson who missed the first half of the Tri-Nations with a calf injury.
Also included at outside centre Conrad Smith, who has had only three minutes of Test rugby this year because of a hamstring injury and Leon MacDonald whose troublesome groin strain has kept him out of the past two matches.
Weepu was one of six All Blacks disciplined after a drinking binge in the lead-up to the Australia Test, but coach Graham Henry said his behaviour was not the reason he had been omitted.
”People’s ability to conduct themselves is important. But the selections were made on form.”
Ellis played on last year’s northern hemisphere tour while Lauaki has not played for the All Blacks for two years. But both turned in impressive performances with the New Zealand Juniors in the Pacific Nations cup this year.
New Zealand are the number one ranked side in the world and are pooled with Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Romania at the World Cup. Barring upsets they are scheduled to face Australia in the semifinals and then South Africa in the final.
But form and rankings aside, New Zealand have a reputation as chokers when it comes to big games.
They won the inaugural World Cup in 1987 but have been beaten in either the final or semi final stage ever since. – Sapa-AFP