There were perhaps two or three players that could have been heaped into the unfortunate pile, but for the most part the team naming went largely as expected.
Indeed much of the intrigue will have to wait a few days, until the naming of the team to play the first test against France on Saturday. In taking 32 players, there was always going to be few surprises in the naming of the squad. For a home series consisting of just three tests, it does seem like a fairly large group.
Considering the starting line-up probably will not vary too greatly in the first two tests and then may be altered to give the others a run in the third if the series is wrapped up.
Why not name a smaller squad? Essentially it is just cheapening the jersey, handing it out to more players who may only get one token appearance at the end of the series. It is not as if the side is travelling far.
They are remaining in New Zealand so if they do get into injury problems, it is not going to be difficult to call in a replacement. Some may like the idea of blooding new players, or giving them a taste. That is all very good, as long as it is not cheapening the jersey and the tradition.
The team itself is a reasonable one, perhaps not looking as strong as the team that took the field in 2012, but still a team containing a handful of world class players. The main issue comes in the mix of experience and form. At the moment, many of the experienced players in this group are not on form, while the form players are not as experienced.
How do you strike a balance? Of course, you cannot pick underperforming players, as the Highlanders have found out, but it may be that many of the superstars rediscover their talents once they pull on the black jersey.
Fullback is a contentious position. Israel Dagg has been named, which suggests he will most likely be named in the No. 15 jersey. But Dagg has been so desperately out of form this season, not having the same impact on attack and proving absolutely abysmal on defence.
Is it unreasonable to suggest that Ben Smith should start in the jersey instead? Certainly he has been by far and away the best of the fullbacks in Super Rugby and he proved himself at test match level last year. His ability to pick out the gap is unmatched and his defensive prowess sets him apart from the others.
But with the naming of Charles Piutau along with Dagg and Smith, it seems likely Smith will find himself on the wing. It would not seem logical to name three fullbacks and there is an open space on the wing with the absence of Cory Jane.
Julian Savea will have the left wing locked down after a devastating Super 15, which will leave Ben Smith and Rene Ranger to fight it out for the No. 14 jersey. Both are playing very well and most likely, both will see their share of game time.
Conrad Smith will start at centre, while Ma'a Nonu will most likely be the second five-eighth.
Nonu is another who has been struggling for form at Super 15 level, but tends to play his best when he is with the All Blacks outside a better functioning forward pack and a first five-eighth who knows how to get the best out of him. Perhaps this does not seem quite right, but at the same time there is not a whole lot of others putting their hands up. Francis Sailii has shown some quality in the Super 15 and has been rewarded with a call up but is still relatively raw, while first five-eighth Daniel Carter may also be an option should Nonu's form be that bad.
Carter will be the 10, with Cruden being a very capable back-up. Both are good runners who will take on the line and get the best out of their backline. They both have good kicking games too and have the ability to sum up a situation quickly.
Along with them is Hurricanes first five-eighth, Beauden Barret, who will no doubt see some time but may find it tough to break into the line-up with two very good players in front of him.
Aaron Smith may have been lucky to retain his place after an average Super 15, but has been looking better in recent weeks and will function better in the All Blacks where he just has to distribute rather than organise. However, he may not make it back into the starting line-up with Piri Weepu back playing as well as any halfback in New Zealand.
This will be dependent on his availability of course, after suffering what looked to be a nasty head knock against the Highlanders. These two are joined by Tawera Kerr-Barlow, another rising star who toured with the team last year and has been good this season after coming back from injury. Perhaps TJ Perenara could be considered unlucky after a good Super 15, but given Kerr-Barlow went away with the team last year, his omission was not a huge surprise.
Up front there will be less controversy. Kieran Read as captain will be the starting No. 8 and rightly so. Sam Cane will fill the vacant No. 7 jersey, while the No. 6 jersey will likely be filled by either Liam Messam or Victor Vito. Steven Luatua wins a spot after a strong Super 15 campaign where he has shown great versatility and a good running game.
Matt Todd was the sixth looseforward named, who will act as injury cover for Sam Whitelock. The selection was perhaps not overly surprising, but Luke Braid would have the right to feel unlucky after a top Super 15 campaign where he has shown his physicality and strong running game with the Blues.
Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano will start at lock in the absence of Whitelock, while Jeremy Thrush deserves his call up. Thrush has played well for the Hurricanes for a number of years and is a very capable player. He is good in the lineout while also being a hard worker around the field in the tight-loose.
Prop will remain an area of interest, particularly on the loosehead side where incumbent Tony Woodcock has made next to no impact so far this year. Both Ben Franks and Wyatt Crockett have been more prominent around the field and stronger in the scrum and should be favoured over Woodcock.
Franks has plenty of experience, being used in recent years off the bench with his versatility proving valuable. But his form has been good enough to be picked as a starter this year and he should be rewarded. In saying that, it will not be a surprise if Woodcock gets the nod. Owen Franks will start at tighthead, but Ben Afeaki has been showing good form a long time too and will finally get his chance.
The hookers were not unexpected, with the only real question being how long can Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu keep going and how long before Dane Coles is used in a more prominent role?
The team is not a bad one. If some of the recent underperformers can find some form it will be a very good one. But that remains the challenge. Ultimately they should beat the French.
But it will not be an easy task and if France bring their A game, it will be a tough series. Finding the balance between form and experience will be crucial. Let us hope they do.
