All Blacks selection for The Rugby Championship Round 2 - no thoughts of #RWC15

It is usually difficult to criticise the All Blacks but the selection policy for The Rugby Championship seems to offer little in terms of delivering the New Zealand public the Rugby World Cup in October 2015.

The draw last week sounded alarm bells in many quarters but the selectors have been unmoved as Scott Donaldson reports:

The All Blacks squad has been named for their Rugby Championship return match against the Wallabies at Eden Park.  

The main talking point is who will replace the injured duo of Ma'a Nonu and Jerome Kaino. As expected, Liam Messam wears the Number Six jersey, while Ryan Crotty who came off the bench to replace Nonu in the drawn test in Sydney gets a rare All Blacks start, and joins the returning Conrad Smith in the midfield with Malakai Fekitoa moving to the bench.  

There are no other changes to the All Blacks squad despite a mixed performance against the Wallabies last week. Charlie Faumuina replaces Joe Moody on the bench.

The All Blacks Starting XV to face the Wallabies...

1. Wyatt Crockett (28 caps)
2. Dane Coles (19)
3. Owen Franks (58)
4. Brodie Retallick (28)
5. Samuel Whitelock (55)
6. Liam Messam (32)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (128)
8. Kieran Read (63)
9. Aaron Smith (30)
10. Aaron Cruden (33)
11. Julian Savea (23)
12. Ryan Crotty (7)
13. Conrad Smith (78)
14. Cory Jane (49)
15. Ben Smith (30)

Reserves:

16. Keven Mealamu (114)
17. Ben Franks (32)
18. Charlie Faumuina (20)
19. Steven Luatua (12)
20. Sam Cane (15)
21. TJ Perenara (4)
22. Beauden Barrett (20)
23. Malakai Fekitoa (3)