New faces will be involved in the All Blacks' quest for rugby World Cup redemption with the selectors' fresh approach evident in their initial training squad.

The player drain had already influenced selection of the 25-man squad to a degree and on Tuesday head coach Graham Henry and assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen unveiled several uncapped options for the 2008 program.

The train on squad met in Auckland on Tuesday and will remain in camp until Thursday.

Crusaders players are not involved given their Super 14 final with the Waratahs on Saturday night but a strong representation is expected when the 26-man squad for Tests against Ireland and England is announced in Christchurch on Sunday.

While the vanquished World Cup squad was fragmenting long before the quarter-final exit against France last November as experienced players linked with European clubs, some incumbents who stayed put now appear on the outer.

Loose forward Chris Masoe and centre Isaia Toeava are the notable omissions while Nick Evans' decision to join the northern drift has seen him overlooked in favour of Waikato's Stephen Donald and presumably Stephen Brett of the Crusaders.

Piri Weepu, a 20-Test veteran, remains in exile while fellow Hurricane Jason Eaton, who missed France through injury is still down the second row pecking order.

Jimmy Cowan, who missed the World Cup cut, and Brendon Leonard are the two halfbacks attending the camp while the Crusaders' Andy Ellis is also in contention for the season opener against Ireland in Wellington on June 7.

Weepu, whose Super 14 campaign ended with the Hurricanes' semifinal defeat to the Crusaders last weekend, has been on the outer since All Blacks management expressed concerns about his fitness and attitude shortly before the World Cup squad was finalised.

The latest snub may encourage him to also look overseas or contemplate a return to rugby league.

Cowan has also been reprimanded more recently after being charged with disorderly conduct following the Highlanders' match with the Blues this month but his solid Super 14 campaign has been rewarded.

Meanwhile, the retirement on Monday of Jerry Collins leaves the blindside flanker position up for grabs - although Henry on Tuesday conceded the 48-Test veteran was battling to retain his place anyway.

Henry confirmed the 27-year-old would not have been named on Sunday, clearing the path for the Kieran Read or Jerome Kaino to succeed Collins for the Tests against Ireland and England.

Former New Zealand sevens representative Adam Thomson has been invited to the camp in recognition of his efforts for the struggling Highlanders this season.

Lock is another area of interest following the departure of Chris Jack and retirement of Keith Robinson.

Otago's Tom Donnelly, Kevin O'Neill from Waikato and Anthony Boric (North Harbour) have a chance to impress at the camp though it is expected Crusaders duo Ali Williams and Brad Thorn have the inside running.

Other uncapped players included in the group are Chiefs centre Richard Kahui, Blues centre Anthony Tuitavake, Blues wing Rudi Wulf and Highlanders utility back Paul Williams.

Training squad: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Kevin O'Neill (Waikato), John Schwalger (Wellington), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Paul Williams (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour).

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