18 Oct 2009

Plenty of time for Cruden, Slade, Robertson and Dagg

6:30 pm on 18 October 2009

The All Blacks coach Graham Henry says the time will come for the likes of Manawatu's Aaron Cruden, Canterbury's Colin Slade and Southland's Robbie Robertson.

Many are tipping that trio for higher honours, along with Hawke's Bay fullback Israel Dagg, but all missed out in this morning's announcement of the touring squad for the trip to Tokyo and Europe.

Henry maintains there are plenty of opportunities for the youngsters to impress for 2010 and the Rugby World Cup in 2011, with next year's Super 14 the ideal environment to push their Test cases.

There are four new caps -- Hawkes Bay winger Zac Guildford, Wellington mid-fielder Tamati Ellison, Bay of Plenty first-five Mike Delany and Otago utility Ben Smith, while North Harbour lock Anthony Boric and the Canterbury pair of Corey Flynn and Andy Ellis return to the All Black frame for the first time in 2009.