Sonny Bill Williams is back while brilliant youngster Damien McKenzie has been omitted from the All Blacks squad for the 2016 Rugby Championship.
Coach Steve Hansen named a 32-man squad on Monday for the tournament which begins with the Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 20.
Powerful centre Williams, who missed the 3-0 series sweep of Wales in June while playing in the Sevens World Series, is the only significant addition to the squad.
Fullback McKenzie and centre Seta Tamanivalu were dropped and fellow Chiefs back Charlie Ngatai (concussion) was not considered as the backs group was reduced from 16 to 14, while there were no changes to the forwards.
Williams will join the squad after his sevens appearances at the Rio Olympics and likely won’t be used for the opening Test against Australia as he readapts to the 15-man game.
Goal-kicking Chiefs fullback McKenzie has been one of the standout players of the Super Rugby season but the youngster will likely now have to wait until the northern hemisphere tour at the end of the year to make his Test debut.
Giant winger Julian Savea has been retained despite poor form which saw him dropped for the second test against Wales and benched by his Hurricanes Super Rugby side in recent weeks.
“It was more a case of who do we leave out, rather than who do we pick,” Hansen said.
“We’re confident that we’ve picked the right players for the Championship with some proven combinations and some test experience being balanced out by the need to continue to grow the newer players in our environment.”
“The quality of the opposition we’ll face during the Rugby Championship will require a growth in our physicality, intensity and the standard of our preparation.
“How well we do that will be reflected in our results. It’s going to be a very competitive Championship, which we’re all really looking forward to.”
The squad will assemble in Auckland on Thursday for a two-day training camp, without members of the Hurricanes team which will play in Saturday’s Super Rugby final. It will reassemble on August 11 and will play training matches against Counties Manukau and Northland provinces
New Zealand squad. Forwards: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Elliot Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read (captain), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire. Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, T.J. Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.
Shelton Madrazo
Guest
Always proud to be named in a @AllBlacks squad, but first time 2 play some good rugby with the @nz brothers at the Olympics ???
John R
Roar Guru
Might as well start calling them WARABLACKS. HONSUN is biased and hates REDS players.
A.O.Tear Rower
Guest
He loves this subject. The back ups for Naholo are Savea and Moala on the left wing. Yeah, thats right, I think Naholo will start.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
You can imagine if MacKenzie was Australian - his Australian Agent would be shopping him around to every rugby league club, anywhere his grandparents may have been born and a top rate salary at any European or Japanese club to the point where if he wasn't selected he would walk. I guess the closest thing as sacred to Australians as an All Black jersey is to Kiwis is the baggy green (though the top Aus cricketers are paid millions)
CUW
Guest
where did u read that ? he is 6' 4" and 108kg (allblacks.com) ; more importantly he has pace , unlike say someone like Nandolo who is much bigger but also slower.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
J Savea was looking lean and mean on the weekend - working his way back in to it me thinks.. albeit slowly ! Don't know why he is described as a giant winger - he is only 103 kgs. A lot bigger wingers about these days. In saying that it wouldn't be my first choice to stand in front of him at full pace...
ben
Guest
Thats what Scrumma keeps saying but is yet to point out those mistakes from at least his last 2 games....
Pilferer
Guest
Problem with ngatai is concussion hopefully like keiren read he can get his head right and stay injury free then i expect he will rise to the top.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Can't he catch a bus to training? Maybe they could post him out a couple of CabCharge vouchers.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Nah, you turned around for a few seconds and he ran past you and out of sight. ;)
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Correct, and
ignores that Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu play quite differently.Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
ClarkeG
Guest
That's not what Hansen is saying.
Dave
Guest
U could even think travel fatigue may have had something to do with it
Dave
Guest
Precious stuff from you more like
Brawlsinmauls
Guest
Lol im blind
Chivas
Guest
I'd love to see Frank Bunce back or Fekitoa develop into his clone.
ben
Guest
Im not a big fan of Whitelock..played a great game i think v crusaders but nothing else that sticks out for me. Fifita or Seu for me are the up n coming 6/lock. Luatua covers both too and finding form as has been recognised by Hansen and co, although hes been playing 8 which is where he fits i think. Those 3 ahead of Whitelock imo.
Scrumma
Guest
When he stops making too many mistakes.
samalavich
Roar Rookie
Agree on charlie in that he offers a pretty complete game - have heard there are questions about his defence but I haven't noticed anything glaring like I have with feks or seta. He also seems to be a better option taker than those two.I think squire is more a number 8. Think the abs at the mmoment are looking for a six who can also play lock which is why dixon or possibly fifita or whitelock fit better to what they are looking for