The most prevalent aspect of the New Zealand squad for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour is that all of the new faces have been picked on domestic form. A fair amount of respect has also been given to the incumbents who, lest we forget, won the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup.

The forward debutants are spearheaded by Taranaki open-side flanker Scott Waldrom – who is now officially captain Richie McCaw’s understudy, highlighting forwards coach Steve Hansen’s desire to groom another international-class specialist. 

Kieran Read, after a successful campaign as Canterbury’s ANZC captain, will join an impressive-looking selection of loose forwards, alongside the versatile Liam Messam from Waikato. Props Jamie Mackintosh from Southland and Ben Franks from Tasman represent the new front row talent.

The new caps in the backline are outstanding Wellington threequarters Cory Jane and Hosea Gear – the latter having scored 14 tries in this year’s domestic tournament.  This is significant as it sees two one-position players come in; Jane as the backup to first-choice fullback Mils Muliaina, and Gear to ensure that the All Black experimentation with non-specialist wings will end.

Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn, locks Ross Filipo and Jason Eaton, as well as the recovered Joe Rokocoko, are the four recalled All Blacks. The losers are Sione Lauaki, the Waikato No.8 paying the price for his recent poor form, and North Harbour wing Rudi Wulf, who had a poor return to domestic rugby.

Canterbury custodian Leon Macdonald and Waikato halfback Brendan Leonard were not considered due to continuing injury concerns.

Of the remaining squad, 24 players wore the dreaded black during the Tri-Nations.  Interestingly, only 13 featured in the 35-man squad featured in the World Cup campaign 12 months ago.

The first match of an arduous campaign will be an historic Bledisloe Cup match in Hong Kong, the first time the trophy has been played for on neutral territory. Although effectively a “dead rubber”, the All Blacks will wish to finish the 2008 season with a positive win-loss ratio against their Tri-Nations opponents.

Indeed, while no Australian player has taken part in competitive rugby since September 13, the All Blacks have all been match-hardened through the ANZC.  The only exceptions are Ali Williams and Dan Carter.  With the Australian squad facing injuries and selection being based on Tri-Nations form, New Zealand will head to Asia as deserved favourites.

After that, the All Blacks will look to record the third Grand Slam of the illustrious history, their previous being under Graham Mourie in 1978 and Tana Umaga in 2005 – the latter gaining fame when Henry rotated his entire starting 15 for the matches against Wales and Ireland .   

The 2008 matches will begin with Scotland (November 8), followed by Ireland (November 15), a midweek fixture against Munster (November 18), Wales (November 22) and England (November 29).

New Zealand head to Europe with the most fearsome record of any nation against northern opposition.  Since 2003 they have only lost two games against Northern Hemisphere foes.  They hold a 77% winning record against England, 86% over Wales and have never lost to Scotland or Ireland.

However, Graham Henry is right to acknowledge that this will be the toughest Test tour faced by the All Blacks in the modern era.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has names only two debutants named in a strong 31-man squad, marred by the controversy of Scott MacLeod’s failed dope test. But the reality is that this will be the All Blacks’ easiest Test challenge.

New Ireland coach Declan Kidney comes to the post with impressive credentials and has named a 41-man squad which will be captained by Brian O’Driscoll. Having dropped to eighth in the world, the Irish will target the All Black game at Croke Park as a redemption match following the horrors of the World Cup and recent Six Nations.

Warren Gatland and his Wales squad’s preparations have been marred by a Club v Country row between the WRU and the Principality’s four major clubs. Under the existing agreement Gatland is entitled to 13 days with his squad prior to the November Tests – but Ospreys, Cardiff Blues, Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons do not want to release their players due to the EDF Cup.

Australian David Moffett, now the WRU interim chief executive, has been clashing with the national coach, in a saga that for the moment has seen the Supreme Court rule in favour of the national body which will see the Wales players available for non-consecutive days leading up to a full five-day preparation for the Test matches.

In a sorry saga, it is unfortunate the Six Nations champions will be disrupted in what should be a glamour match pitching the Tri-Nations kings against the Gatland’s Grand Slammers.

Martin Johnson’s England should pose the most significant threat to the All Blacks in a game which will come after they have first played South Africa and Australia.  The contest will now be honoured with the Hillary Shield, named in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary. 

Johnson named his 32-man elite squad many months ago, with an agreement between the RFU and England’s clubs that the squad only be changed in cases of injury.
Danny Cipriani, Nick Abendanon and Michael Lipman are the new additions to the squad, the highest-profile injury casualty being Jonny Wilkinson.  But England at Twickenham has always represented the most formidable challenge to the southern nations.

A Grand Slam will cap off a remarkable year for New Zealand rugby, a true quickening for the horrors of 2007. It will be demanding, but I predict that the All Blacks will march through Europe undefeated.