Hurricanes

Higher Honours for Hurricanes Players

Six current  Hurricanes players, including new caps Aaron Cruden and Victor Vito, have been named in the All Blacks squad for their three-Test Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales and a further six will line up for the New Zealand Maori against the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England in the Sealord New Zealand Māori Centenary Series.
 
The Hurricanes players selected in the 26-man All Blacks squad are: Cruden, Vito, Neemia Tialata, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith and Piri Weepu.
 
Meanwhile, Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison, Hosea Gear, Karl Lowe, Willie Ripia and Andre Taylor have been picked for the New Zealand Maori side. This squad also features two Hurricanes region players who have yet to play Super Rugby – Manawatu’s Aaron Smith and Wellington’s Daniel Ramsay.
 
Three Hurricanes players were not considered for All Blacks selection – Jason Eaton (knee), Andrew Hore (shoulder) and Ma’a Nonu (knee).
 
Cruden and Vito join the All Blacks for the first time on the back of eye-catching 2010 Rebel Sport Super 14 seasons with the Hurricanes.
 
In his debut year, 21-year old first five-eighth Cruden forced his way into the starting team throughout the second half of the season and played a key role in the Hurricanes’ four consecutive wins against the Brumbies, Highlanders, Chiefs and Reds which propelled the team into semi-final contention.
 
All Blacks selection completes a whirlwind two years for Cruden that saw him diagnosed with testicular cancer in mid-2008 and then fight back to captain and star for New Zealand at the 2009 IRB World U20 tournament in Japan and then make the Hurricanes for the first time.
 
Vito, who sprung to prominance for New Zealand at the Wellington Sevens in February 2008 scoring two tries in the final against Samoa, had an assured second Super 14 season with the Hurricanes. The 23-year old former New Zealand U19 captain and 2009 Junior All Black started in 10 of 13 games including eight consecutive matches at blindside flanker, before missing the last two with injury.
 
Neemia Tialata, Conrad Smith and Piri Weepu all return to the All Blacks after playing Tests in 2009. 41-Test veteran prop Tialata was one of three Hurricanes players, along with Hore and Nonu, to start in every match for the Hurricanes this year, and Jane (12 Test caps) missed just one game against the Bulls after taking a head knock in the match against the Stormers the week before. Weepu missed just one game against the Brumbies and started eight times and was the Hurricanes’ leading points scorer in 2010 with 75 points.
 
The All Blacks squad features four new caps, with Israel Dagg (Highlanders) and Benson Stanley (Blues) joining Cruden and Vito as first time All Blacks in the Richie McCaw captained side. 
 
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said he and fellow coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen were excited by the challenges that awaited the squad in the Steinlager Series.
 
“We have selected what is a balanced squad; with a mix of experienced All Blacks, past players who’ve shown huge character and drive to become part of the All Blacks again, as well as new caps who have been the form players of the Rebel Sport Super 14,” he said.
 
“It’s an exciting mix and the players will be looking forward to testing themselves against the Welsh and the Irish,” Henry added.
 
The All Blacks squad assembles in Auckland for a training camp this week before heading to New Plymouth on Sunday to prepare for the first Steinlager Series Test against Ireland.
 
The New Zealand Maori squad spend next week in camp in Whangarei ahead of their opening match there against the New Zealand Barbarians on 12 June.
 
Hosea Gear, who scored his first Super Rugby hat trick in round 13 against the Reds, is the most experienced of the Hurricanes players in the Maori squad, having made his Maori debut in 2004. and has played two Tests for the All Blacks. A knee injury in the season-opener against the Blues sidelined the prolific try-scorer for six weeks in the 2010 Super 14, but he was back to top form by the end of the campaign.

 Mobile Wellington prop Jacob Ellison returns to the Maori side after making his debut against Fiji in the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup. The 2009 Vodafone Wellington Lions captain made 11 appearances for the Hurricanes in 2010, including starts against the Stormers and Reds.
 
Wellington hooker Coles, Hawke’s Bay flanker Lowe, Taranaki first five-eighth, Ripia and Manawatu wing/fullback Taylor are all in line to make their New Zealand Maori debuts, as three of 12 new caps in the side.
 
Former New Zealand Colts hooker Coles has now played 18 matches for the Hurricanes in two seasons behind skipper Andrew Hore, Ripia has played 29 and passed 150 Super Rugby points in 2010, Lowe has played 23 and was a Junior All Black in 2009, while 2009 New Zealand U20 World Cup winner Taylor earned four starts in five appearances for the Hurricanes this year.
 
The All Blacks squad is:
 
Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Richie McCaw (Canterbury, captain), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
 
The New Zealand Maori squad is (province and iwi):
 
Ben Afeaki * North Harbour Ngati Awa
Colin Bourke * Bay of Plenty Ngati Wairere
Stephen Brett Canterbury Ngapuhi
Dane Coles * Wellington Ngati Porou
Jacob Ellison Wellington Ngati Porou
Corey Flynn Canterbury Kai Tahu
Hosea Gear Wellington Ngati Porou
Romana Graham * Waikato Ngati Awa
Jarrad Hoeata Taranaki Ngati Kahungunu
Tanerau Latimer Bay of Plenty Tapuika
Karl Lowe * Hawke’s Bay Ngati Kahungunu
Sean Maitland * Canterbury Ngapuhi
Luke McAlister North Harbour Te Atiawa
Liam Messam ( c ) Waikato Ngai Tuhoe
Bronson Murray Northland Ngapuhi
Clint Newland Hawke’s Bay Ngati Kahungunu
Daniel Ramsey * Wellington Kai Tahu
Willie Ripia* Taranaki Ngai Tuhoe
Robbie Robinson * Southland Ngati Tuwharetoa
Isaac Ross Canterbury Ngati Kahungunu
Aaron Smith * Manawatu Ngati Kahungunu
Chris Smylie North Harbour Ngati Mutunga
Dwayne Sweeney Waikato Ngati Mahanga
Andre Taylor* Manawatu Ngati Tuwharetoa
Hayden Triggs Otago Ngati Kahungunu
Jackson Willison* Waikato Ngati Mahuta