Graham Henry has named an All Blacks wider training group (WTG) as the first step toward picking his squad for the forthcoming Northern Hemisphere tour.

Excluding players from the Wellington and Canterbury sides who will contest the Air New Zealand Cup final in Wellington on Saturday, it showcases again the immense strength of New Zealand rugby despite well publicised European pillaging at the end of 2007.

The WTG will contest a game against a New Zealand Barbarians side on Wednesday. The All Blacks will depart for the Bledisloe Cup dead rubber against the Wallabies on November 1, before embarking on a Grand Slam tour with a midweek game against Heineken Cup Champions Munster.

The most significant selections in the squad are the two uncapped specialist open-side flankers Scott Waldrom and Tanerau Latimer. Forwards coach Steve Hansen has stated the one of the tour's priorities in the development of a true understudy to captain Richie McCaw - and one of these players will be given the task of trying to fill the mercurial flanker’s massive shoes.

There has been a fair degree of loyalty shown in the selection of the squad, with both injured players and early-year All Blacks selected despite not showing consistent class when re-appearing in the Air New Zealand Cup.

This is evidenced by only one selection from the Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty teams, both whom finished in the top four of the domestic competition. Hooker Hika Elliot, who had an outstanding season with Hawke’s Bay, was expected to earn a call-up, but looks likely to miss out. 

Players such as Nigel Hunt, Zar Lawrence, Jason Shoemark and George Naoupo headline the next generation of New Zealand rugby – which shows that the New Zealand game is again in excellent health.

There are, however, many new faces in the WTG, with outstanding Waikato flanker Liam Messam likely to earn selection if his niggling hamstring injuries clear up. 

Further new faces are Tasman and Southland props Ben Franks and Jamie Mackintosh, the latter of whom compares favourably with Carl Hayman which shows that All Black front-row stocks are very strong. They are joined by incumbents Tony Woodcock and John Afoa, with Neemia Tialata from Wellington likely to join the final squad.

First-choice hookers Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu are natural selections, but it is likely Corey Flynn from Canterbury will join them although Wellington's Dane Coles could be a bolter.

In the second row, first-choice locks Ali Williams and Brad Thorn are joined by regular back-up Anthony Boric. Taranaki lock Jason Eaton is recalled after a 12 month absence in national colours – but he will be nervously watching the final, with outstanding locks in Ross Filipo and Jeremy Thrush on display and one of them likely to earn a position.

Among the loose forwards Messam will join either Waldrom or Latimer for the two new caps in the back row. Sione Lauaki has been selected, despite terrible performances at provincial level in recent weeks.  New 2008 All Black Adam Thompson has also been named, but it seems that the experiment of playing him at open side will end and he will be groomed as a specialist blind side.  The two men who captained New Zealand this year, Richie McCaw and Rodney So’oialo, are of course automatic selections in the final squad.

Jimmy Cowan is the only halfback named at this stage – but both Piri Weepu and Andy Ellis are automatic selections if fit after the domestic final.  Wellington halfback Aby Mathewson is considered a new-cap chance after an outstanding season.

Dan Carter and Stephen Donald are the untouchable players in the No.10 position. Carter, the only man exuded from domestic duty in New Zealand, will join the WTG later in the week after business and overseas commitments, including his unveiling at Perpignan.

Richard Kahui is the only specialist centre selected, although the first-choice All Black midfield will be on display in the final in the form of Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu.  Anthony Tuitavake has been named officially as wing but he can cover outside centre. Isaia Toeava has also been selected, and after playing at 10 and 12 this season, he has now played in every position in the backline at first-class level and may be utilised as a bench utility. 

Joe Rokocoko has been selected, continuing his rehabilitation from injury, joined by first-choice Tri-Nations wing Sitiveni Sivivatu – as well as Rudi Wulf.  However, the scintillating form of Wellington threequarters Hosea Gear and Cory Jane may mean that he will be dumped from the squad.  Gear has scored 12 tries for Wellington so far this season, and all but won the semi-final match against Southland in the weekend.

Starting All Black fullback Mils Muliaina is in the WTG, but is expecting his first child and likely to miss the opening games of the tour – this enhances Jane's debut selection as Leon Macdonald has still to make a decision on his future.

 A final 35-man squad will be named next Sunday.