Coach John Mitchell ended the World Cup ambitions of Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens and Anton Oliver yesterday by omitting all three from his New Zealand squad.
With experienced stars Christian Cullen and Taine Randell having also suffered the axe in the last 12 months, the All Black party charged with winning the World Cup for the first time since 1987 bears Mitchell's heavy imprint. Mitchell's World Cup party, to be captained by Reuben Thorne, has an average age of just 25 and is based around the players who led New Zealand to the Tri-Nations title. The likes of Joe Rokocoko, Malili Muliaina, Ali Williams and Jerry Collins, who all won their international chance under Mitchell, were certainties.
But, true to form, the squad included two surprises. Uncapped Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn got the nod ahead of Tom Willis and Oliver, while Mitchell opted for Auckland flanker Daniel Braid instead of a fourth specialist lock.
Canterbury full back Ben Blair was also included as Mitchell stuck with the traditional split of 16 forwards and 14 backs.
NEW ZEALAND: Backs: M Muliaina, L MacDonald, B Blair, D Howlett, J Rokocoko, C Ralph, T Umaga, M Nonu, A Mauger, D Carter, C Spencer, J Marshall, S Devine, B Kelleher; Forwards: J Collins, R So'oialo, R McCaw, M Holah, D Braid, R Thorne (captain), A Williams, C Jack, B Thorn, G Somerville, K Meeuws, D Hewett, C Hoeft, K Mealamu, M Hammett, C Flynn.
