Richie McCaw returns to captain the All Blacks © Getty Images

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Players/Officials Dan Carter | Graham Henry | Richie McCaw | Rodney So'oialo

Tournaments/Tours Tri Nations

Teams Australia | New Zealand | South Africa

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been able to recall skipper Richie McCaw and the experienced Rodney So'oialo and Sitiveni Sivivatu from injury to boost his squad for the Tri-Nations.

The most notable omissions from the squad are winger Lelia Masaga and back-row Liam Messam, who both featured for the All Blacks in Tests against France and Italy in recent weeks. Promoted to the squad in their place are lock Jason Eaton and Wellington wing Hosea Gear, both of whom recently helped the Junior All Blacks to retain the Pacific Nations Cup. Prop Owen Franks and lock Bryn Evans are officially included in the squad after being classified as on standby through June.

The inclusion of Franks as a fifth prop boosts the number of forwards to 17, representing a change of heart from the selectors' pronouncement last week that they would select a 16-14 forwards-backs split.

Messam misses out after an error-strewn, yet try-scoring, performance against France.

"He missed crucial tackles and turned the ball over which cost us points," Henry said. "At test match level you can't afford to do that."

Players not considered for selection due to injury include lock Ali Williams (achilles), winger Rudi Wulf (shoulder), flanker Adam Thomson (hand), centre Richard Kahui (shoulder), lock Anthony Boric (toe), halfback Andy Ellis (ribs), hooker Corey Flynn (forearm), flanker Scott Waldrom (back) and fly-half Daniel Carter (achilles).

Also, utility back Isaia Toeava is likely to miss the first three tests of the Tri-Nations because of injury. He was named in the squad today despite a scan late this week confirming that he has a stress fracture in his left foot. Fly-half Stephen Donald is also recovering from a hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Italy test.

Four players will be present as cover when the All Blacks have a training camp in Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday. They are Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, Canterbury first five-eighth Stephen Brett, Canterbury prop Ben Franks and North Harbour outside back Anthony Tuitavake, who were all members of the Junior All Blacks.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry was under no illusions how challenging this year's Tri-Nations would be.

"It's going to be a huge contest right from the first Test," he said. "But this group of players has the resolve and the character to meet that challenge head on so we are expecting it to be another massive competition between the three top-ranked countries in world rugby."

The All Blacks open the tournament against Australia in Auckland on July 18, followed by concurrent tests in South Africa against the Springboks - in Bloemfontein on July 25 and Durban on August 1.

They play the Wallabies at Sydney, on August 22 and finish the competition with two home tests against the Springboks in Hamilton, on September 12 and the Wallabies in Wellington, on September 19.

All Blacks squad for the 2009 Tri-Nations:

Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Luke McAlister, Stephen Donald, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard

Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Tanerau Latimer, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Jason Eaton, Isaac Ross, Bryn Evans, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Aled de Malmanche.