Wayne Smith has announced his All Black squad for the forthcoming trip to Japan, France and Italy , and there are some interesting additions to and omissions from his Tri Nations squad.

The full squad is as follows :

Backs : Christian Cullen ( Wellington ), Bruce Reihana ( Waikato), Doug Howlett ( Auckland ), Tana Umaga ( Wellington ), Jonah Lomu ( Wellington ), Jason O'Halloran ( Wellington ), Pita Alatini ( Otago ), Daryl Gibson ( Canterbury ), Carlos Spencer ( Auckland ), Andrew Mehrtens ( Canterbury), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher ( Otago).

Forwards : Gordon Slater (Taranaki), Craig Dowd ( Auckland ), Greg Feek ( Canterbury), Greg Somerville ( Canterbury ), Anton Oliver ( Otago), Mark Hammett ( Canterbury ), Todd Blackadder ( Canterbury , captain), Troy Flavell ( North Harbour ), Norm Maxwell ( Canterbury ), Scott Robertson (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Taine Randell (Otago), Filo Tiatia ( Wellington ), Ron Cribb (North Harbour).

Josh Kronfeld and Alama Ieremia had effectively ruled themselves out of the tour because of their decision to leave New Zealand rugby to play overseas next year, Kees Meeuws has ben ruled out because of injury and both Carl Hoeft and Tony Brown demoted to the A squad which will be touring in Europe at the same time.

There are recalls for Daryl Gibson and Carlos Spencer, both members of the 1999 World Cup squad and Bruce Reihana and Jason O'Halloran are included in an All Black squad for the first time. Reihana is very quick and very versatile - he can play at full back, on the wing or even in the centre. O'Halloran's inclusion will be welcomed by rugby followers in New Zealand. He is one of the most consistent and intelligent midfield backs in the country, the man who helps to organise and unleash the superstars outside him in the Wellington side.

Amongst the forwards, Gordon Slater, a tourist to England in 1997, gets a well-earned recall in the front row and Filo Tiatia, despite breaking his arm earlier in the NPC , is a surprise inclusion. The suspicion must be that he will cover both at no8 and at no6, allowing Taine Randell to cover at openside flank if the need arises. Despite the wealth of riches in the country at no7, Scott Robertson is the only opensider in the squad. There had been injury clouds hovering over both Craig Dowd and Ron Cribb and it would be no great surprise if , at some stage, members of the A squad are called into action should injuries arise.