Henry has one eye on the future

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry had one eye on the future when he named the two teams for the All Blacks trial next month.

With the New Zealand Maori team having first call on players for their clash with the British and Irish Lions and the first-choice players from the Crusaders side omitted because of their involvement in the Super 12 final against the New South Wales Waratahs this weekend, the Probables and Possibles teams are missing players like Daniel Carter, Chris Jack, Richie McCaw, Justin Marshall, Aaron Mauger, Greg Feek, Carl Hayman, Jono Gibbes and Marty Holah, who will be involved when the All Blacks take on the Lions in three tests during June and July.

Henry insisted despite the absence of several leading contenders the trial still held an important place in an ongoing selection process.