Twelve new caps were today named in the All Blacks touring squad to England, France and Wales, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union announced.
Twenty-one players who might normally have been considered front-rank players were not considered due to injury or because they were being rested with next year's World Cup in mind.
The team will play England on November 9th, France on November 16th and Wales on November 23rd.
The side selected, under the captaincy of former captain and No 8 Taine Randell and vice captaincy of centre Tana Umaga, reflects the success of the Auckland team in winning New Zealand's domestic provincial rugby championship on Saturday. Eight of the players are from Auckland.
By comparison only four Canterbury players, the side who have dominated recent All Black selections, are included.
Only two wings have been included in the side, Doug Howlett and Jonah Lomu, whom many pundits had said would be dropped.
Players among those not in the side include: Reuben Thorne, Anton Oliver (both recent captains), Chris Jack, Dave Hewett, Justin Marshall, Norm Maxwell, Scott Robertson, Richie McCaw, Greg Sommerville, Caleb Ralph, Byron Kelleher.
Other omissions, and prospective losses to New Zealand rugby in the immediate future are Waikato No 8 Deon Muir and Waikato wing Roger Randle.
Surprise selections include livewire flank forward Daniel Braid, the son of former All Black Gary Braid, Steve Devine, who last week was being tipped as a player unable to find a place at half-back in the five New Zealand Super 12 franchises, young centre Regan King, Otago half-back Danny Lee and Wellington No 8 Rodney So'oialo.
New Zealand squad: Ben Blair (Canterbury), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Sam Broomhall (Canterbury), Christian Cullen (Wellington), Steve Devine (Auckland), Carl Hayman (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Regan King (Waikato), Danny Lee (Otago), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Keith Lowen (Waikato), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury), Joe McDonnell (Otago), Brad Mika (Auckland), Taine Randell (Otago, captain), Keith Robinson (Waikato), Mark Robinson (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Tana Umaga (Wellington, vice captain), Ali Williams (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).