As predicted, Highlanders Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith were all named in the 31-man All Black squad yesterday to play in the Rugby Championship this season.
Fekitoa made his All Black debut in the series with England and has edged Ryan Crotty for the third midfield berth.
With Charles Piutau coming back into the team and the other four outside backs secure, one of the midfielders had to go, and Crotty was dumped. It is tough on the Canterbury man but Fekitoa has made every post a winner this year and could not be left out.
The squad will have a camp in Auckland tomorrow and Thursday but will be missing the eight Crusaders players, who will be in Sydney preparing for the Super rugby final.
In their absence, some intriguing names have been added to the camp this week.
Highlanders loosehead prop Kane Hames will join the squad, as will Highlanders openside flanker Shane Christie.
It is a rapid rise for Hames, who this time last year had not even played first-class rugby. But the 25-year-old impressed in his first season for the Highlanders, starting all but one game and getting round the field well.
Christie also played well for the Highlanders this year, playing every game for the squad. Somewhat of a latecomer to professional rugby - he is a qualified builder - Christie (28) got through plenty of minutes for the side and made the second-most tackles of any player in the competition after the end of the regular season.
Also included in the group of extra players this week are are hookers Nathan Harris (Chiefs) and Motu Matu'u (Hurricanes), prop Pauliasi Manu (Chiefs), lock Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes) and loose forward Liam Squire (Chiefs).
Harris will also join the All Blacks in the home tests as part of the continuing apprenticeship scheme.
Otago and Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman appears to have slipped out of the reckoning for the third All Black hooking spot after a disappointing season, not being named as part of the apprentice scheme. His absence, though, will be a boost for the Otago ITM Cup campaign.
Crusaders prop Joe Moody will join the squad initially as veteran prop Tony Woodcock is recovering from a shoulder injury.
The squad also features the return of first five-eighth Dan Carter after he missed the series against England due to a sabbatical.
Flanker Sam Cane comes back into squad and Victor Vito drops out, though the Wellington No 8 was not considered for the squad because of a back injury. Colin Slade and Matt Todd also drop out.
The squad assembles in Auckland on August 7 and will play half games against North Harbour and Northland on August 8, at North Harbour Stadium.
The first game in the Rugby Championship is against Australia in Sydney on August 16.
All Blacks
Rugby Championship squad
Forwards: Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Kieran Read.
Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Aaron Cruden, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Charles Piutau, Ben Smith, Julian Savea.
