All Blacks touring squad

The most surprising thing about the squad that will travel northwards is not the inclusion of Delany or Smith. My personal opinion is that they, just like a number of young New Zealand players, really deserve the call.

The most surprising thing is not the absence of Rokocoko, de Malmanche or Ross, either. Rokocoko is a shadow of what he used to be, de Malmanche has indeed got to improve his throwing in, and Ross... well, the selectors had been given hints that he wouldn't tour, had they not?

The most surprising thing about the squad is the coaching reshuffle that Henry has orchestrated and that points towards a name: Steve Hansen. He, as forwards coach has already been named as the ultimate responsible for a poor forwards delivery (mainly in the lineout, really) during the Tri Nations and by taking over the forwards coach duties, Graham Henry implicitly acknowledges Hansen's critics.

Steve Hansen would have been dropped from any other coaching staff, but not from this one which seemingly will march apiece or die apiece.

Interesting. This ought to be seen as loyalty. Loyalty of Henry towards Hansen, just two years after the toughest times in Henry's coaching career, when both Hansen and Smith remained loyal to Henry.