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Five new players were named in the All Blacks rugby squad of 26 today for next month's homes test against England, Wales and France.
Among them is Canterbury and Crusaders lock and loose forward Brad Thorn, who turned down the All Blacks jersey in 2001.
The others are Crusaders five-eighth Dan Carter, Auckland utility back Mils Muliaina, Wellington centre Ma'a Nonu and Auckland winger Joe Rokocoko.
Canterbury and Crusaders captain Reuben Thorne has regained the captaincy after missing the 2002 tour of the northern hemisphere, and Wellington and Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga, a midfield back, will be his deputy.
Thorne is now likely to lead the team to the World Cup in Australia later this year.
Among those to miss selection are Taine Randell, who captained a young side on the end of the tour last year, and Crusaders No 8 Scott Robertson, voted the international player of 2002.
Other senior players of last year overlooked include Jonah Lomu, who is recovering from illness, Andrew Mehrtens and Norm Maxwell, both who have been inactive recently due to injury, Simon Maling and Mark Hammett.
Blues second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou is a notable non-selection despite his magnificent Super 12 season.
"It's a pretty exciting team, I'm very excited with this group," Thorne said.
All Blacks coach John Mitchell said two more selections were to be made - for the Tri-Nations against Australia and South Africa and the World Cup.
Despite wide speculation that Wellington and the Hurricanes would have just one player in the side - Umaga - Mitchell didn't ignore the exciting Nonu, in his first year of top representative rugby like Carter, and loose forwards Rodney So'oialo and Jerry Collins.
Mitchell said the team's focus was purely on the series against England, Wales and France.
"This particular time of year is certainly a building block time. The selection process will be ongoing as there will be a wide group involved in our preparation," he said.
"This is a very exciting mix. There's enormous positional coverage within this team mix."
He said while players had been selected on form, experience was also a factor.
"Carl Hoeft's return is because he's made shifts in two skill areas that we've communicated with him in the past and I thought he had an excellent Super 12."
Commenting on the new All Black selections, Mitchell said Muliaina was unique in covering three positions.
"He covers fullback extremely well, as he does at outside centre. He also can play in the wing position.
"Joe Rokocoko to me is an exciting talent. Physically he's the fastest person in New Zealand and physically he punches and plays above his weight.
"Ma'a Nonu, he's just a wonderful attacking threat and Daniel Carter is unique in the fact he can play second five-eighth, first five-eighth and he is also a goal kicker."
On Christian Cullen's omission, Mitchell said the selectors had opted for one specialist fullback with cover from Howlett and Muliaina and he denied Cullen was paying the price for being a specialist fullback.
"No, we as selectors have decided that Leon is the No 1 fullback after Super 12. Cully will be in the wider group, allowing us to bring players into fitness testing because we still have a number of fitness tests to go throughout the season and we also bring players from time to time into camps and build towards World Cup preparation."
But Mitchell was concerned about MacDonald's series of concussions and head injuries, including a bad blow to his face in the Super 12 final on Saturday.
"Like all players who have head knocks he'll still have to go through an impact test during this week and obviously it's absolutely vital for Leon understanding his history in that area."
Asked about the bar incident involving Muliaina over the weekend, Mitchell said the Blues' management was handling the incident.
"When you become an All Black there are responsibilities that come with being an All Black and Mils, like every other All Black, will have to adjust to All Black life very quickly."
The team is: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Steve Devine (Auckland), David Hewett (Canterbury), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Kevin Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Anton Oliver (Otago), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury, captain), Tana Umaga (Wellington) vice-captain), Ali Williams (Auckland).
Among them is Canterbury and Crusaders lock and loose forward Brad Thorn, who turned down the All Blacks jersey in 2001.
The others are Crusaders five-eighth Dan Carter, Auckland utility back Mils Muliaina, Wellington centre Ma'a Nonu and Auckland winger Joe Rokocoko.
Canterbury and Crusaders captain Reuben Thorne has regained the captaincy after missing the 2002 tour of the northern hemisphere, and Wellington and Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga, a midfield back, will be his deputy.
Thorne is now likely to lead the team to the World Cup in Australia later this year.
Among those to miss selection are Taine Randell, who captained a young side on the end of the tour last year, and Crusaders No 8 Scott Robertson, voted the international player of 2002.
Other senior players of last year overlooked include Jonah Lomu, who is recovering from illness, Andrew Mehrtens and Norm Maxwell, both who have been inactive recently due to injury, Simon Maling and Mark Hammett.
Blues second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou is a notable non-selection despite his magnificent Super 12 season.
"It's a pretty exciting team, I'm very excited with this group," Thorne said.
All Blacks coach John Mitchell said two more selections were to be made - for the Tri-Nations against Australia and South Africa and the World Cup.
Despite wide speculation that Wellington and the Hurricanes would have just one player in the side - Umaga - Mitchell didn't ignore the exciting Nonu, in his first year of top representative rugby like Carter, and loose forwards Rodney So'oialo and Jerry Collins.
Mitchell said the team's focus was purely on the series against England, Wales and France.
"This particular time of year is certainly a building block time. The selection process will be ongoing as there will be a wide group involved in our preparation," he said.
"This is a very exciting mix. There's enormous positional coverage within this team mix."
He said while players had been selected on form, experience was also a factor.
"Carl Hoeft's return is because he's made shifts in two skill areas that we've communicated with him in the past and I thought he had an excellent Super 12."
Commenting on the new All Black selections, Mitchell said Muliaina was unique in covering three positions.
"He covers fullback extremely well, as he does at outside centre. He also can play in the wing position.
"Joe Rokocoko to me is an exciting talent. Physically he's the fastest person in New Zealand and physically he punches and plays above his weight.
"Ma'a Nonu, he's just a wonderful attacking threat and Daniel Carter is unique in the fact he can play second five-eighth, first five-eighth and he is also a goal kicker."
On Christian Cullen's omission, Mitchell said the selectors had opted for one specialist fullback with cover from Howlett and Muliaina and he denied Cullen was paying the price for being a specialist fullback.
"No, we as selectors have decided that Leon is the No 1 fullback after Super 12. Cully will be in the wider group, allowing us to bring players into fitness testing because we still have a number of fitness tests to go throughout the season and we also bring players from time to time into camps and build towards World Cup preparation."
But Mitchell was concerned about MacDonald's series of concussions and head injuries, including a bad blow to his face in the Super 12 final on Saturday.
"Like all players who have head knocks he'll still have to go through an impact test during this week and obviously it's absolutely vital for Leon understanding his history in that area."
Asked about the bar incident involving Muliaina over the weekend, Mitchell said the Blues' management was handling the incident.
"When you become an All Black there are responsibilities that come with being an All Black and Mils, like every other All Black, will have to adjust to All Black life very quickly."
The team is: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Steve Devine (Auckland), David Hewett (Canterbury), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Kevin Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Anton Oliver (Otago), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury, captain), Tana Umaga (Wellington) vice-captain), Ali Williams (Auckland).
