There were 30 names in Steve Hansen's first All Blacks squad of the year named today - but only one anyone wanted to talk about.

Piri Weepu, who has battled form, fitness and non-selection with the Blues all Super Rugby season, won a straight head to head nod against Andy Ellis of the Crusaders for the second halfback's spot alongside new cap - one of seven rookie All Blacks -- Aaron Smith of the Highlanders.

It's a selection call which has already provoked a heated public reaction, and one which will assuredly not go down well in red and black country where Ellis has been in fabulous form for the Crusaders as they've taken their game to another level over the last few weeks.

But it's the 28-year-old, 56-capWeepu, who has shed 10kg since the start of the Super Rugby season, that got the nod, despite the fact he's been a bit-part player at best for Pat Lam's out-of-sorts Blues this campaign. Last night he was not even used off the bench in their 34-41 defeat to the Chiefs, though Hansen confirmed today that had been at his request after Weepu suffered a hamstring "twinge" in the warmups.

Weepu has clearly been picked on trust, and on his proven ability to rise to the requirements of test rugby. Both Hansen and selector Grant Fox made that more than clear when they explained by far the most contentious call of their otherwise well signposted squad.

"Aaron Smith we see as a player very similar to a guy called Graeme Bachop who was a great passing halfback," said Hansen today. "He brings something we haven't had for a wee while.

"Then we wanted to keep some experience, and it came down to either Piri or Andy and we felt with Piri's added ability to goal-kick, and play first five if we get a double-injury, they're advantages.

"Piri is also the incumbent No 1 All Black halfback who played extremely well at the World Cup and without him I think we may have struggled to achieve what we achieved."

But Hansen admitted Weepu had not helped himself by presenting for the start of Super Rugby well short of optimum condition.

"We and he would acknowledge he probably hasn't been in the greatest form. We set him some strong targets at the [training] camps and he met those and is now in better condition than he was for the World Cup.

"He's very highly motivated, and that gives us confidence we'll get the Piri Weepu we know and we've all loved in the past."

Hansen confirmed he had requested Weepu not be used off the bench last night unless absolutely necessary. "I'd like to thank Pat Lam for that. Pat knew the team and knew he didn't have to go out. That allowed him to sit through the game and not do any damage."

Hansen said he had no concerns that Weepu's lack of game time would see him short of a gallop ahead of the three tests against Ireland.

"He's a player who's a natural rugby player. He's a competitive spirit, and the bigger the occasion the better he steps up. He's proven that, hence why we've stuck with him. We're confident he'll produce the goods for us in this series."

New All Blacks selector Grant Fox used the word "trust" to explain Weepu's selection ahead of a player in such solid form.

"Last year we all believed and trusted in Piri," said Fox. "We still believe and trust. We think we'll get a very motivated Piri Weepu, very determined to do well for the All Blacks.

"He's a proven performer who has got a good all-round game. He's got a natural feel and you can't coach that. A lot of things happen in a game of rugby you can't coach, and you've just got to trust your player. Piri is one of those players who does it instinctively."

Fox also highlighted the special skills the 23-year-old Manawatu product Smith brought to his first taste of test rugby.

"In Aaron we've got a halfback who gets to rucks, gets the ball, clears it very quickly, and throws a beautiful pass," said Fox.

"We're excited about what that might do for the All Black backline, with that little bit of extra time Daniel [Carter] and Aaron [Cruden] might be getting.

"He's also got a great pass for forwards to handle. It's been noticeable to us forwards have no trouble handling it. It's all part of a passing skill he brings that I don't think we've seen in an All Black halfback for quite some time."

The other half-dozen new caps were less contentious selections.

Twenty-year-old Chiefs prodigy Ben Tameifuna, all 140kg of him, is one of five props and very much an investment in the future; second rowers Brodie Retallick (Chiefs) and Luke Romano (Crusaders) were predictable picks with impressive form behind them; Chiefs youngster Sam Cane had been designated the clear Richie McCaw backup via the training camps; Canes pivot Beauden Barrett gets in as another development pick as the third No 10; and Hurricanes powerhouse Julian Savea was one of the original wing selections and seen very much as a form performer.

Hansen said Cane was a young player with a "huge toolbox. He said the challenge for the All Blacks was to develop those tools.

"He reminds me a lot of a young Richie. He's got great support lines of running, he's a great defensive player, is good over the ball and has got linking skills. It's all there, we've just got to facilitate the growing of it."

Barrett got the nod because they decided to carry the extra five-eighth, rather than halfback. "He's a talented young man, can play a couple of positions and is one for the future too," said Fox. "He can kick goals and gives us depth at 10 if we happen to get a ding."

Hansen said while most of the young selections had been made with an eye to the future, they were all capable of starting tests "if we have to".

Hansen confirmed hooker Keven Mealamu will miss at least the opening test - thus the call-in of Hika Elliot - and hinted that Ma'a Nonu and Tamati Ellison, who both came into Super Rugby off stints in Japan, would not be given heavy workloads in this series.

The squad will immediately begin preparations for next Saturday's first of three tests against the Irish at Eden Park.

ALL BLACKS SQUAD:

Backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Julian Savea*, Zac Guildford, Hosea Gear, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Tamati Ellison, Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett*, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith*, Piri Weepu

Forwards Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Victor Vito, Adam Thomson, Sam Cane*, Luke Romano*, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick*, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Ben Tameifuna*, Tony Woodcock

* indicates uncapped player