First All Blacks team for the year

McCaw continues as All Blacks skipper
Sunday 01st June 2008

Richie McCaw will captain the All Blacks again this season having been named in a 26-man squad by coach Graham Henry on Sunday.

The squad, which was finalised after the Crusaders finished the Super 14 season with a win in the final on Saturday, contains six new caps including the impressive Adam Thompson.

Of the thirty players who represented the All Blacks at last year's World Cup only sixteen return as Henry looks to make a fresh start.

Henry has introduced two uncapped forwards and four backs to the squad to prepare for Tests against Ireland and England (twice) this month and contest the Tri-Nations tournament beginning in July.

The newcomers to the forward pack are North Harbour lock Anthony Boric and Otago flanker Thomson, who was a standout performer for the Highlanders in the Super 14 but still wasn't considered a likely selection. The expectations were that uncapped Crusaders blindside Kieran Read would win selection but he was not considered ready yet by Henry.

In the backs, the new faces are North Harbour duo Rudi Wulf and Anthony Tuitavake, Waikato centre Richard Kahui and Waikato fly-half Stephen Donald, who is named ahead of Crusaders candidate Stephen Brett.

Seven players have been included from the Crusaders team who beat the Waratahs 20-12 in Saturday's final.

Henry will name his starting team for the Irish Test in Wellington on Tuesday.

All Blacks squad:

Backs: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Brendon Leonard (Waikato).

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Richie McCaw (Canterbury, captain), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Adam Thomson (Otago), Ali Williams (Tasman), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), John Afoa (Auckland), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Andrew Hore (Taranaki).