The fortunes of several Super Rugby veterans have waxed and waned with the squads of the five New Zealand franchises revealed.
The biggest surprise is the omission of Auckland captain and six-test All Black Daniel Braid from Sir John Kirwan's Blues.
Braid played his 100th match for Auckland at the ITM Cup final against Canterbury but after 10 years in Super Rugby he's unwanted by the Blues.
Braid has played 100 Super Rugby matches - 81 for the Blues and 19 for the Queensland Reds.
Another veteran to miss out is the 34-year-old Southland hooker Jason Rutledge, who's been left out of Jamie Joseph's Highlanders squad - having first played for the franchise in 2004.
The absence of All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson from the Highlanders squad underscores the likelihood he's about to announce he's heading offshore.
There's a been a dramatic change in fortune for All Black hooker Andrew Hore. Dropped by the Hurricanes last year and joining the Highlanders for this year's competition, Hore will captain the side in 2013.
Meanwhile the former All Black and Crusaders lock Ross Filipo has revived his Super Rugby career having been picked by the Chiefs after playing for Wellington in the ITM Cup.
Filipo returned home this season after several years in France and England.
