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Blacks leave Cup spot open, Selectors needed to rest before the job was complete...
July 22, 2007
NEW Zealand today named a 29-man squad for the Rugby World Cup, with provision to add another player at a later date.
AAP
All Blacks dump Weepu in World Cup surprise
ABC Sport
All Blacks selectors sprung two surprises in the World Cup squad announced today with the recall of Andy Ellis and Sione Lauaki at the expense of Piri Weepu and Troy Flavell.
Richie McCaw will captain the squad in which selectors have gone for a 16 forwards/14 backs split, but only named a 29-man squad.
A place has been left open for prop Greg Somerville if he can make a satisfactory recovery from Achilles tendon surgery, which has kept him out of Test rugby for 10 months.
It is the most experienced squad New Zealand has ever sent to a World Cup with Byron Kelleher and Reuben Thorne on their third campaign and, if Somerville is selected, there will be 15 survivors from 2003.
Apart from the dumping of Weepu and Flavell the squad is largely as expected with most players from the Tri-Nations series - which the All Blacks won, beating Australia 26-12 in Auckland in the final fixture on Saturday - staying in favour.
Imposing loose forward Sione Lauaki has been included after missing the Tri-Nations because of injury and with Thorne favoured as a utility man who can double at flanker or lock, there was no room for Flavell.
Only three specialist locks have been chosen but they include Ali Williams, who has not played since breaking his jaw against France last month, and the injury-prone Keith Robinson who missed the first half of the Tri-Nations with a calf injury.
Also included at outside centre Conrad Smith, who has had only three minutes of Test rugby this year because of a hamstring injury, and Leon MacDonald whose troublesome groin strain has kept him out of the past two matches.
Ellis played on last year's northern hemisphere tour while Lauaki has not played for the All Blacks for two years. But both turned in impressive performances with the Junior All Blacks in the Pacific Nations Cup this year.
New Zealand are ranked number one in the world and are pooled with Scotland, Italy, Portugal and Romania at the World Cup.
New Zealand World Cup squad:
Forwards:
Rodney So'oialo (Wellington Hurricanes), Chris Masoe (Hurricanes), Richie McCaw (captain, Canterbury Crusaders), Jerry Collins (Hurricanes), Reuben Thorne (Crusaders), Sione Lauaki (Waikato Chiefs), Ali Williams (Auckland Blues), Chris Jack (Crusaders), Keith Robinson (Chiefs), Carl Hayman (Otago Highlanders), Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), Tony Woodcock (Blues), Anton Oliver (Highlanders), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Andrew Hore (Hurricanes)
Backs:
Leon MacDonald (Crusaders), Mils Muliaina (Chiefs), Doug Howlett (Blues), Joe Rokocoko (Blues), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), Isaia Toeava (Blues), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Luke McAlister (Blues), Aaron Mauger (Crusaders), Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Nick Evans (Highlanders), Byron Kelleher (Chiefs), Andrew Ellis (Crusaders), Brendon Leonard (Chiefs)
Coaches: Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith
Blues 7
Chiefs 6
Crusaders 7
Highlanders 3
Hurricanes 6
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