I've never had the problems with Graham Henry and the All Blacks' brains trust that some in the media (and to be fair some ordinary fans around New Zealand) have had.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not someone who's been blindly banging the drum for Ted but I've never been one to criticise him for the sake of criticism.

And I thought the decision to retain him for the World Cup 2011 campaign showed a rare maturity for a country which usually dumps the coaches after World Cup failure.

It didn't work in the past so why not try something new?

Anyway, I may be forced to eat my words of encouragement after the announcement of the All Blacks team to play Australia today.

When I announced to the office Joe Rokocoko had retained his place in the team it's fair to say the rugby fans were stunned.

But their disbelief was made worse by the fact that two youngsters in Isaac Ross and Owen Franks have been given the bum's rush.

Of course I'm not watching Rokocoko in training every day and seeing the effort he's putting in - but even if that is true he's not transferring it to the paddock on a Saturday night.

Two good games in the Air New Zealand Cup this season is all we've got to show for Joe's rugby efforts this season - and as Steve Hansen was at pains to point out at the weekend, just because someone plays well at the third level of rugby doesn't mean they're ready to play internationally.

But I feel incredibly sorry for Franks and Ross more than anything else.

I've had the pleasure of interviewing both these kids and it's been an enjoyable experience. Not bounded by years of media training they're brutally honest with what they say and occasionally may say more than they should.

And their form hasn't exactly been the worst.  In fact Ross - in both mine and many of the people I've spoken too - has been one of the standouts of the poor international season so far.

But what message are the coaches sending to Franks and Ross and every other young player who aspires to play in the black jersey?

The only message I'm seeing is "If you're in with us you can fail to play to the expected standard and still retain your spot."

How many times have we been told that players are picked on form? They can't possibly keep using that argument while Rokocoko keeps his place in the team because none of us are that stupid.

And Neemia Tialata hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire in the Air New Zealand Cup, has he?

Do you get the feeling I'm angry about this? Because I am. These kids are the future of New Zealand rugby and they're being ditched in order to win a game which in the grand scheme of things means nothing.

This was THE game to persist with Franks and Ross and to bring other youngsters, like Hosea Gear Aled de Malmanche and Wyatt Crockett, into the team.

Who cares if we finish last in the Tri-nations this year. We're not champions and we've already retained the Bledisloe Cup therefore it doesn't make any difference.

But this was a chance to build for the future, to blood the youngsters who will be needed if we want to win the World Cup in 2011.

And instead we cast them aside in the name of trying to secure a face-saving win.

So what do you think? Can you tell me why Joe Rokocoko has been picked again? Do you think Isaac Ross and Owen Franks should have kept their spots? And what other changes would you have made?

I appreciate all your comments.