Hardest selection ever admits Henry

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media

TOUGH CHOICES: All Blacks coach Graham Henry had plenty to ponder before naming the team to play France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

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This is the biggest rugby test in All Blacks coach Graham Henry's tenure so little wonder it was the most emotionally draining selection in which he has been involved.

Henry told his players exactly that when he read out the team to face France in the World Cup quarterfinal here on Sunday morning (NZ time), a team that features major surprises in the presence of lock Keith Robinson and the absence of winger Doug Howlett.

Robinson and hooker Anton Oliver pushed world class forwards Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu respectively to the reserve bench respectively while gamebreaking wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu sprinted ahead of the in-form Howlett.

Mils Muliaina was named at centre despite playing very little rugby of late, allowing Leon MacDonald to start at the back and no room for form options such as Nick Evans, Conrad Smith or Aaron Mauger.

"The hardest announcement for a long time was to announce the test team to play France on Saturday, which we did yesterday afternoon. I told the players that," Henry said after unveiling the side he and the selectors must regard as their premier outfit, with only suspended No 8 Sione Lauaki unavailable.

"We could have played any of the 14 backs for this particularly game.

"In the forwards, in some positions there's a bit of a gap between the top player and the second player. That's no criticism of the second player, that's just the fact of the matter.

"It's a great situation to be in but also difficult informing the guys who haven't been selected in the side."

An injury cloud still hangs over first five-eighth Daniel Carter, who took a limited part in today's training session.

Evans was on standby this week for Carter, a gifted playmaker the All Blacks will be desperate to field.

"It's just a matter of being wise," Henry said of Carter.

"Training at 100 per cent now, that's just going to be suicidal. It's a matter of keeping him with reins on until later in the week."

Henry veiled any concerns about the importance of Carter, saying Evans would fill the role well given his form at the tournament.

"I think he's one guy who has moved more than most and we've been exceptionally pleased with the way he's played."

Henry found it hard to explain why Howlett had missed out, saying simply it was a gut call from the selectors to go with the Fijian-born pair who both average close to a try per test.

"Sitiveni and Joe Rocks have played some outstanding rugby for New Zealand, their strike rates are really high," he said.

"It's a hell of a difficult decision.

"Other people may see it another way, which is fine. It's just the way that we saw it for this particular test."

The selectors simply wanted to find room for both Muliaina and MacDonald because of their experience and history of performing at the top level.

Both missed last week's defeat of Romania, recovering from niggles, with Muliaina's hamstring strain limiting him to just 60 minutes at this tournament.

It was unfortunate for Smith and Isaia Toeava, who had both enjoyed strong tournaments to date, Henry added.

Robinson's selection was attributed in part to New Zealand's best interests in the semifinals and final if they were to advance that far.

The tough lock spent the first three weeks of the tournament recovering from a calf injury and played just 55 minutes in his return last weekend.

"If we don't play Keith Robinson in this game, he won't play on the rest of the tour," Henry said.

"We thought it was important that the three established lock forwards all played in the finals.

"If we do get through this game, he's got another 45-50 minutes under his belt and he's ready to play again.

"We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but you've got to think about one or two of those sorts of things."

This morning's training was a vigorous affair, with Cardiff-based former All Blacks No 8 Xavier Rush called in to bolster numbers.

The only All Blacks players to sit out periods of it were Carter and captain Richie McCaw, whose hand was bandaged.

McCaw later indicated there was no concern about the knock.