Four new faces for All Blacks

Restructure to coaching setup
By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 10:02 18/10/2009


Photosport
ALL BLACKS CALLUP: Hawke's Bay's Zac Guildford
In-form Bay of Plenty five-eighth Mike Delany and Otago fullback Ben Smith were the bolters in Graham Henry's 33-strong All Blacks squad to tour Japan, the UK and Europe.
Henry this morning named four uncapped players in his squad that will play tests against the Wallabies, Wales, Italy, England and France and then close a six-week tour with a fixture against the Barbarians at Twickenham.
He also confirmed a restructure of the coaching setup, with the main feature being Henry taking over responsibilities for the forwards, Hansen moving into the position of attack coach (previously occupied by Wayne Smith) and Smith taking over defensive responsibilities (hitherto Henry's domain).
Henry described the reshuffling of the coaching portfolios as "exciting" and said it had been done with the blessing of the senior player group in the squad. "I'm a bit apprehensive to tell the truth, I haven't coached the forwards for a while... but I think getting a bit nervous about it brings the best out in you," he added.
"It's good for me to have that challenge, and I'll be using a lot of knowledge from the forward pack which I think will be good for them."
Delany, 27, who has had an outstanding season with Bay of Plenty in the Air NZ Cup, is one of three specialist five-eighths chosen for the tour; Smith, the 23-year-old standout Otago player in a largely disappointing season in the south, has been included as one of four wings, though both he and 26-year-old Cory Jane also cover fullback, as does Delany; and the other new caps are 20-year-old Hawke's Bay winger Zac Guildford and Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison who has been with the national squad for much of the season.
Both Guildford and Ellison were widely tipped to make the tour, but Delany and Smith definitely come into the bolter category. Smith has played mostly at fullback for Otago this season but Henry said he was chosen essentially as a winger.
They have both been picked on the strength of outstanding provincial campaigns which Henry spoke about at today's team announcement. It is unusual, though, that the coaches have included three five-eighths for the tour (four if you throw Luke McAlister into the mix), and just two hookers.
Smith makes the All Blacks after just his third season of provincial rugby, and just one Super 14 campaign with the Highlanders this year. He also played alongside fellow All Black Owen Franks in the 2007 New Zealand Under-21 side.

Delany made his provincial debut in 2005 and his Super 14 breakthrough last year. He has played 52 matches for Bay of Plenty and is the leading scorer in this year's Air NZ Cup.
Guildford has had a stellar season, playing for the Hurricanes, the world champion New Zealand Under-20 team and Hawke's Bay. He has scored a competition-leading 13 tries in this year's provincial championship.
There is no room in the touring troupe for long-serving, but out of form wing Josevata Rokocoko, seldom-used wing Hosea Gear, hooker Aled de Malmanche and lock Isaac Ross who was singled out by Henry as a special case who needed a spell out of the game. All four featured through this year's international campaign.
There is also a return to international duty for Waikato loose forward Liam Messam who was dropped from the All Blacks after the Iveco Series and given a stern message about improvements needed in his game. Veteran No 8 Rodney So'oialo also survives, while Bay of Plenty's Tanerau Latimer won a tight three-way battle against George Whitelock and Karl Lowe as Richie McCaw's openside backup.
Cantabs Corey Flynn and Andy Ellis - who were both invalided out of last year's tour - and North Harbour's Anthony Boric also make returns to the All Blacks after spells away with injury. Flynn will have extra responsibility as the only specialist hooker backup for Andrew Hore in a clear selection gamble that was undertaken to allow an extra loose forward into the mix.
The coaches confirmed that if there was a late injury to one of their specialist hookers prop John Afoa would cover the position on the field and either he or Tony Woodcock would deputise as lineout thrower.
Ellis gets the third halfback spot in preference to Wellington's Piri Weepu who was ruled out because of his long-term ankle injury. "I spoke to him yesterday," said Henry. "He's struggling with his ankle and fitness and we believe he needs time to get that operated on so he can come back and be a candidate for the No 1 halfback in New Zealand."
And Boric is one of four specialist second-rowers chosen for the trip after he spent much of the year recovering from a broken toe suffered near the end of the Super 14 season.
The All Blacks coaches went for a mix of 18 forwards and 15 backs for the trip. There are five props, two hookers, four locks and seven loosies among the forwards, while in the backs there are three halfbacks, three five-eighths, four midfielders, four wings and the one specialist fullback, with cover from Jane, Smith and Delany.
"It was a difficult side to select," said Henry at today's announcement press conference. "There are a lot of good players who haven't been selected. A number of young players put their hands up and that's good for our future as an international team. So depth is returning, and that's good."
Henry said the new caps had demanded selection through form in the Air NZ Cup that could not be ignored.
"Zac Guildford has had a great year, and he and Ben Smith have got the skill-set that we believe is needed in the modern game. They're good under the high ball, good at the kicking game, good at the kick-chase game and also can counter-attack from the back three. That was very important in their selection.
"Tanerau Latimer has been in the group for some time and we've been very impressed with him. He's come back from injury and played well for Wellington.
"Mike Delany gets selected on form. He's a late developer and we like his real positiveness when he plays, he's a good kicker of the ball and has got the ability to counter-attack as well."
Henry also spelt out the special circumstances of Ross' absence after the talented Cantab had been a first-choice lock for most of the test year.
"We believe he's got things he needs to work on to become a better player," said Henry. "If he's going to be a strong scrummager and better at the breakdown he needs some time out of the game to develop the strength to be able to do that. So he'll come back a better player."
Henry also spoke about the two wings who had been part of his squad all season who missed selection.
"Joe Rokocoko will be disappointed, and he and Hosea Gear are similar really. We're looking for players in the back three who are good under the high ball and can counter-attack. Those are things they need to work on."
Henry stated the obvious when he said de Malmanche had missed out because "he needs to work on his throwing ability", but clearly there's a gamble in the call to go with just the two hookers, especially with Flynn's injury record.
Harbour wing Rudi Wulf was another initial selection who had missed the touring squad, with Henry saying "he hasn't played sufficient football in one position". Sitiveni Sivivatu is judged fit to tour despite not playing a provincial game since he picked up a groin strain late in the Tri-Nations campaign.
Henry said form in the national provincial championship had been the key factor in the selection of three of the new caps.
"Delany, Guildford and Smith, the new All Blacks, have put their hands up consistently through the tournament. Mike Delany you would say is in the top-three in-form players in this Air NZ Cup, Zac the same and Ben the same. Form for the new caps was critical obviously."
The All Blacks squad will assemble in Auckland for a training camp this week before flying out to Tokyo next Sunday, October 25.
Players not considered for selection due to injury include: Piri Weepu (ankle), Isaia Toeava (pelvis), Lelia Masaga (shoulder), Keven Mealamu (chest), Bryn Evans (back), Richard Kahui (shoulder) and Ali Williams (Achilles).
All Blacks touring squad
Forwards:
John Afoa Auckland (20 test caps)
Anthony Boric North Harbour (10)
Wyatt Crockett Canterbury (1)
Tom Donnelly Otago (1)
Jason Eaton Taranaki (13)
Corey Flynn Canterbury (5)
Owen Franks Canterbury (6)
Jerome Kaino Auckland (22)
Tanerau Latimer Bay of Plenty (3)
Andrew Hore Taranaki (43)
Richie McCaw Canterbury (76) - captain
Liam Messam Waikato (2)
Rodney So'oialo Wellington (60)
Kieran Read Canterbury (12)
Adam Thomson Otago (12)
Brad Thorn Canterbury (33)
Neemia Tialata Wellington (37)
Tony Woodcock North Harbour (58)
Backs:
Dan Carter Canterbury (62)
Jimmy Cowan Southland (28)
Mike Delany Bay of Plenty *
Stephen Donald Waikato (16)
Andy Ellis Canterbury (11)
Tamati Ellison Wellington*
Zac Guildford Hawke's Bay *
Cory Jane Wellington (8)
Brendon Leonard Waikato (12)
Luke McAlister North Harbour (28)
Mils Muliaina Waikato (77)
Ma'a Nonu Wellington (42)
Sitiveni Sivivatu Waikato (39)
Ben Smith Otago *
Conrad Smith Wellington (29)
* denotes new cap
All Blacks tour schedule
Saturday 31 October, All Blacks vs Australia, National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 7 November, All Blacks vs Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday 14 November, All Blacks vs Italy, San Siro Stadium, Milan
Saturday 21 November, All Blacks vs England, Twickenham, London
Saturday 28 November, All Blacks vs France, Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Saturday 5 December, All Blacks vs Barbarians, Twickenham, London

NZ should harness Lomu's star power

NZ should harness Lomu's star power
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 12:06 12/10/2009




Reuters
BIG WIN: Rugby legend Jonah Lomu is embraced by a supporter after rugby's acceptance as an Olympic sport for 2016 and 2020.




OPINION: How refreshing to see a rugby organisation using the power of Jonah Lomu to get their message across.
Lomu was a key figure as rugby persuaded the Olympic movement to include Sevens in their ranks for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
It's not too often we dish out praise to the International Rugby Board but they need a double dose of "well done" for their efforts last week.
First of all, great work in getting rugby on to arguably the grandest stage of all.
Sevens, with its high speed game and quick-fire tournament format, is well suited to the Olympics and there will be no arguments from Kiwis who will sniff a genuine chance of a rare medal at this level.
Secondly, well done to the IRB for enlisting the help of Lomu to get their message across when it mattered most.
With the finish line in sight after gaining a nomination along with golf to be added to the programme for Rio, Lomu helped rugby get rubber-stamped.
There he was as the good news was delivered to the rugby delegation hugging the likes of IRB president Bernard Lapasset and chief executive Mike Miller.
Lomu made his name in Sevens before going on to be an All Blacks superstar.
But he never lost his appetite for the abbreviated game, winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal and a Sevens World Cup in amongst his test duties.
A World Cup win in 15s eluded him in 1995 and 1999 but he still did enough in both of those tournaments to be the individual star of two glittering occasions.
That was never lost on the IRB. They realised his standing as the game's biggest name with his ability to transcend sporting stages and simply be a global sportsman, a name known to fans other than followers of rugby.
To their credit adidas have also stood by Lomu - being at his side for some of his greatest triumphs and his biggest struggles both on and off the field.
He remains one of their few sporting ambassadors.
It should be an embarrassment to New Zealand rugby that we have done so little to acknowledge his presence beyond his All Blacks achievements.
If ever there was an ambassadorial figure for the modern age it is Lomu.
Yet he has been used little if not at all to promote the game in this country or promote the New Zealand rugby cause overseas.
Lomu has matured into a fine man, comfortable to operate in the corporate surroundings as well as athletic environments.
Sadly or bravely, whatever way you look at it, he is still trying to have another crack at playing rugby again, this time in the lower divisions of the French club scene.

That's a clear mark of the passion he still possesses for the game.
It's just a pity that at times he isn't rewarded with the same sort of passion for his standing or powers on these shores.
New Zealand has a World Cup beckoning in less than two years. Who better to spread the word before and during that event than Lomu?
If he's good enough for the IRB he should be good enough for the NZRU. If he's good enough for the Olympics, he should be good enough for the World Cup.