He said a number of young players had put their hands up during the competition.

But he saw them more as prospects for selection for the end-of-year tour of Europe, rather than for the home tests against Ireland and England next month.

He said the Super 14 was a tough, high-pressure, four-month tournament and young players needed a bit of space afterwards to recuperate and to think about their development.

"So I don't think you'll see a whole host of 19, 20, 21 year olds in the All Blacks," he said of the June tests.

"But maybe when we get extra numbers at the end of the year and we go from 26 to the early 30s, there will be a few young guys in that tour."

With the All Black squad to be named on June 1, a day after the Super 14 final, Henry cited lock and second five-eighth as the two area requiring most thought.

"The middle row is a concern and I think we've still got some talking and viewing to do in that position," he said.

"There's not a lot of international experience at second five-eighth, so I guess they are the two major holes."

Since the last World Cup, the All Blacks have lost the likes of locks Chris Jack and Keith Robinson, and inside backs Luke McAlister and Aaron Mauger.

New Zealand open their test programme against Ireland in Wellington on June 7.

They then face England in Auckland on June 14 and in Christchurch on June 21.

Henry and injured winger Joe Rokocoko were at Gladstone Primary School in Auckland today to launch ticket sales for the three tests.

Henry described the tour party that Ireland had named, with Brian O'Driscoll as skipper, as the strongest possible.

He was also expecting England, last year's losing World Cup finalists, to have bring their best available squad.

Henry backed the sabbatical proposal that would allow the likes of star first five-eighth Daniel Carter to take up a short-term contract overseas and still be available for the All Black.

"As long as we try to keep rugby players in this country, I think it's a positive -- if that's a goer for a particular player," he said.

"It also gives them some time away from New Zealand to recharge. Even though they're playing rugby, it's a different environment, so that could be a positive also."

However, Henry also supported the status quo whereby players with long-term overseas contracts are ineligible for All Black selection.

If the New Zealand Rugby Union changed that policy, if would lead to an even great player drain, he said.

Meanwhile, Rokocoko, who had wrist surgery last month, was hopeful of being fit in time for the Tri-Nations beginning in July.

He said the cast on his wrist was due to come off on June 6.

"Hopefully, I'll have a solid month of rehab in June and be available in the first or second week of July."