All Blacks coach Steve Hansen plans to build on the culture and strength of the team with the skills and talents of the new players.

As Steve Hansen ushered in six new caps to his All Blacks squad to face Wales over three tests in June, he also sent a clear message that the watching rugby world might regard with some trepidation.

Yes, he may have seen six of the very best to have donned that famous black jersey depart the international game, and, yes, the All Blacks may have tucked away back-to-back World Cups to carve their name in history, but that famous whiteboard ambition of becoming the best team in the history of the game remains the holy grail.

"A lot of teams and various people around the world probably believe we're a little bit vulnerable," Hansen said after naming Blues prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Highlanders loose forwards Elliot Dixon and Liam Squire, Hurricanes flanker Ardie Savea and Chiefs backs Seta Tamanivalu and Damian McKenzie as the uncapped players in his squad of 32 to face the Welsh.

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"To that I can assure you that's not our mindset. Our mindset is not one of rebuilding, but re-establishing, and moving to a higher level. That's our challenge − to take this team to a higher level than where we left off at that Rugby World Cup.

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"We've put a fullstop on 2015. It's a new start from that point of view and we must go to a higher level. We're looking forward to that challenge."

Of course, having the talent that Hansen has at his disposal makes that sort of statement much more than a pipe-dream. It's actually an achievable ambition.

Sure enough Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu, among others, leave big holes with their retirements or departures offshore, but, as this Super Rugby season has clearly highlighted, the New Zealand rugby talent factory continues to churn out the quality product.

Andrew Cornaga / Photosport.nz All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had a lot to smile about as he discussed his exciting 32-man squad for the June test series against Wales.

SAVEA AND TU'UNGAFASI

​Ardie Savea's callup comes as no surprise, as a long-term project that the All Blacks have been working with for a while now, though Tu'ungafasi's selection may have taken some aback, given his scrum struggles this year and demotion from the Blues starting lineup.

Hansen confirmed the young prop's versatility won him the nod as the all-important fifth prop capable of covering both sides. "He's got size, physicality, he's mobile and his scrummaging, particularly on the tighthead side, is pretty good. Working with Crono (Mike Cron) on a regular basis that will only get better."

Hurricanes openside flanker Savea was "very excited" about making the All Blacks, telling Sky Sport it was hard work to make the team, but he was happy to make it.

His selection was not without controversy after he pulled out of the NZ sevens team earlier this year.

Savea explained that his call not to pursue an OIympic medal was a "gut decision" and he was "pretty chilled" about it.

THE OLD HANDS

As expected, Kieran Read will captain the side from No 8, with fullback Ben Smith named his vice-captain.

As well as the new faces, Hansen has also welcomed back the likes of resurgent fullback Israel Dagg, lock Patrick Tuipulotu ands hooker Nathan Harris from spells out with injury, and given first five Lima Sopoaga and midfielder Charlie Ngatai the chance to add to their single caps earned last year.

It's a strong squad, possibly a little light at halfback where they've chosen just Aaron Smith and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (with TJ Perenara covering for him for most likely the first test on June 11) and skinny on specialist wings, with Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo the only ones chosen. McKenzie, Dagg and the adaptable Ben Smith will provide the cover there, with Beauden Barrett also seen as having the ability to push out wide if needed.

Hansen said all of his new selections had earned their spots on form but also spoke about the potential the selectors saw in each of them.

THE CHIEFS CONNECTION

McKenzie, at just 21, certainly falls into that category.

"He's been in form, and he's exciting," Hansen said. "He's still got a lot of things in his game he needs to grow and work on, and you'd expect that for a young guy. It's an opportunity for us to look at not only the now but also the future in his selection.

"We get a month to work with him and over that time, slowly and surely, we'll see him grow."

Blockbusting Chiefs centre Tamanivalu also came into that category.

"We are excited about working with him," Hansen added. "Midfield is obviously the thing everyone is talking about with Conrad and Ma'a leaving and Sonny [Bill Williams] not available. We've got a young group there and we've got to get combinations going pretty quickly. We need people owning their positions and being talkers. Seta is not a big talker, so that's a big focus for him, but he is a talent."

HIGHLANDERS LOOSIES

Dixon and Squire both brought hard-nosed qualities from that blue-collar Highlanders pack that Hansen sees as a good fit in the All Black loose forward unit.

The coach said Squire had been on their radar since a powerhouse start to the Super Rugby season. "Before he had a break with injury was in outstanding form. He's physically imposing, his tackling is dominant, he's got X-factor with his ball-carrying and for a forward he's extremely quick and has a high workrate."

And Dixon has simply put together a second straight campaign where he has shone out as one of this country's best blindside flankers.

"That consistency over a period of time has really shown us he can play a good standard of rugby that entitles him to be in this group. He's a big part of what the Highlanders are all about. He's very physical, he asks a lot questions of the opposition, and now's the time to see if he can do this at the international level."

THE MAKEUP

The make-up of the squad sees 18 forwards selected (three hookers, five props, four locks and six loose forwards) and 14 backs (two halfbacks, three first five-eighths, four midfielders and five outside backs) with an average age of 25.

The squad is made up of four Blues players, eight Chiefs, four Hurricanes, nine Crusaders and seven Highlanders while 11 of New Zealand's provinces are represented with eight Canterbury players, five from Auckland, four from Taranaki, three from Wellington, two each from Southland, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty and Waikato, and one player from Tasman and Otago.

It's a new era of All Blacks, for sure, but with so many fixtures from the previous one, and so many others ready to take the step up in responsibility, it's one that looks well capable of meeting Hansen's challenges. And, as always, it has a sharp eye on the future, as well as the present.

The All Blacks squad assembled in Auckland on Sunday to prepare for the first test against Wales at Eden Park on June 11.

ALL BLACKS 32-MAN SQUAD

Props: Charlie Faumuina, ​Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

​Hookers: Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Dane Coles.

Locks: Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Romano.

Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read (c), Elliot Dixon, Jerome Kaino, Liam Squire.

​Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Five-eighths: Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga.

Midfield: Charlie Ngatai, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Seta Tamanivalu.

​Outside backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Damian McKenzie, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo.

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