OPINION: Some people are disappointed there wasn't more attention paid to provincial rugby form when Steve Hansen chose his All Blacks squad of 36 to head north in pursuit of the perfect test year. They shouldn't be.
Hansen knows only too well that there's a massive gap between the provincial game and the test one and he's rightly reluctant to read too much into showcase performances in the national championship. Back that up in Super Rugby, and then he'll start paying a bit of attention.
Thus they've stuck pretty closely to the troops they've used throughout this test year, and the one or two peripheral figures they've had in and out of their squads at various stages.
Sure, on the surface the Wellington pair of Brad Shields and Victor Vito are a bit unlucky to miss out to Canterbury's Luke Whitelock whose form has been somewhat less demonstrative.
And maybe one or two others could have been looked at after strong provincial campaigns. Andy Ellis certainly remains a heady performer for Canterbury.
But there is plenty of youth and promise in this squad, as Hansen has studiously introduced a fair swag of the next generation of talent during his two years in the top job.
Some might wonder about the younger Whitelock. But he has a harder edge about him that the selectors understand is vital at test level, and he has a high workrate and takes care of the core roles very, very well.
Sure, he lacks a bit of X-factor at this stage of proceedings and his agility is not yet at the level required to make an impact in the test arena. But these are things that can be worked on and implemented - more so as part of the national team on tour.
Vito has been tried before at test level, and hasn't been able to produce the impact required. Shields is still a work in progress and has time on his side. He could yet force his way in down the line.
Joe Moody's selection as a third specialist loosehead might have raised an eyebrow or two, especially considering Ben Franks is more than capable of covering there too. But remember the top two left-sided props are hardly spring chickens, and you will understand the motivation to expose this young man to the All Black environment. It's all part of the forward thinking and planning of this very competent national coaching group.
Moody, Luke Whitelock, Canterbury lock Dom Bird and
Counties wing Frank Halai are the four uncapped players included. But all have
been part of the national setup at some time or other over the last year or so.
The rest have earned the right to tour, either through making the most of their
chances with the All Blacks this season, or playing their part in the squad
environment.
The easy reaction is to say it's sad the day of the bolter has gone. But Hansen has introduced so many new players over the last two years that it's more a case that he manages that process so carefully and cleverly that before we know it, these young men are part of the furniture.
The likes of Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty and Francis Saili are men who haven't played much test rugby, but nonetheless have accumulated a fair bit of experience in and around the environment.
I'm also pleased Hansen has gone with the tried and trusted, and will instead manage workloads through a strategy that will see a core group of nine workhorses sent directly to Paris. There. the focus will be purely and simply on the three tests in the north.
This is an important tour for the progression of this group towards the next World Cup. France and England at home present the sort of challenges that will have to be overcome in 2015. Those two, followed by Ireland on consecutive weekends, replicates the three knockout games of the global tournament.
Plus, there's the small matter of the perfect year now within this team's reach. It's never been done in the professional era, but it's now well and truly on.
This All Blacks group is motivated by its legacy. They love the big occasions and the landmark victories. To go 14-0 through the calendar year would be one more achievement to add to their considerable list.
Special feats are generally achieved by special players. Hansen understands that, and has selected accordingly.
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