Dan Carter has been in fine form at second five-eighth for the Crusaders © Getty Images

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New Zealand selectors have recalled Dan Carter to the All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup and The Rugby Championship after he found form quickly since returning to action after his six-month sabbatical.

But the headline selection is that of Steven Luatua ahead of Victor Vito after the Hurricanes captain had been preferred for the series against England due to his strong Super Rugby season.

Luatua was omitted from that squad before he was reprieved when selected to cover Kieran Read, and he subsequently performed strongly for the Blues in Super Rugby.

Charles Piutau and Sam Cane have also been recalled after missing the June series against England with respective knee injuries, while Crusaders prop Joe Moody has been named to cover Tony Woodcock - who will miss the start of the competition with a shoulder injury.

Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty, Matt Todd and Vito have been omitted from the squad to make room for the returning quartet.

Steven Luatua recaptured something approaching his best form in the latter weeks of the Super Rugby season © Getty Images

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All Blacks selector Grant Fox says he was encouraged by Carter's progress with the Crusaders, even though the returning star had been wearing the No.12 jersey outside Slade. "Playing second five-eighth was great as far as we're concerned," Fox said. "It gets him right back into the physical side of the game and he just showed what a quality player he is. He hadn't played a lot of footy either but he made a difference to the Crusaders straight away. He's a world-class performer."

Fox said Carter was in the best shape he'd been in physically for two years, and he was also mentally refreshed from his sabbatical.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said the selectors had faced a difficult task in trimming the squad down to 31. "In doing so, we had to leave out players who are performing at a very, very high level and they could consider themselves unlucky not to be selected," he said. "But while we feel for those guys, unfortunately, we have to make the hard decisions."

Hansen noted the selectors had been hugely impressed with the way the All Blacks players had been playing in the past month for their Super Rugby teams, saying that form augured well for The Rugby Championship.

"We are now looking forward to bringing the players together and building on the progress we made against England. The Rugby Championship gives us the next opportunity to see where we are at, and it doesn't get much bigger than back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests to kick it off. It's going to be another intense competition. South Africa and Australia are ranked second and third in the world and both had successful June Test series, while Argentina will again bring the physicality and passion which we know they are renowned for. They will also bring the knowledge and experience which comes from playing in The Rugby Championship and we are expecting them to improve further."

The All Blacks squad will assemble on Wednesday for a two-day camp in Auckland minus the eight players in the Crusaders, who will be preparing for the Super Rugby final. Nathan Harris, Motu Matu'u, Pauliasi Manu, Kane Hames, Jeremy Thrush, Liam Squire and Shane Christie will feature in the camp while the Crusaders are absent. The All Blacks then will re-assemble in Auckland on August 7 to prepare for the opening Test of the competition, the Bledisloe Cup match against Australia in Sydney on August 16.

All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad

Back three: Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Cory Jane (Hurricanes), Charles Piutau (Blues), Ben Smith (Highlanders), Julian Savea (Hurricanes).

Centres: Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), Ma'a Nonu (Blues), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes).

Fly-halves: Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Aaron Cruden (Chiefs).

Scrum-halves: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Aaron Smith.

Back-row: Sam Cane (Chiefs), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Steven Luatua (Blues), Richie McCaw (captain, Crusaders), Liam Messam (Chiefs), Kieran Read (Crusaders).

Second-row: Dominic Bird (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Samuel Whitelock (Crusaders).

Hookers: Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Keven Mealamu (Blues).

Props: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders), Charlie Faumuina (Blues), Ben Franks (Hurricanes), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Tony Woodcock (Blues).