'Why he's not in the All Blacks XV squad, I will never know'

Wellington Lions coach Leo Crowley is the latest high profile critic of the All Blacks XV selections, publicly questioning them after his side pulled off an NPC final win in Christchurch over Canterbury on Saturday night.

Wellington received just three selections in the All Blacks XV, discarded halfback TJ Perenara, fullback Ruben Love and hooker Asafo Aumua while the All Blacks XV became a Canterbury-laden team with eight picks.

Those selections were put under the spotlight when the Lions mauled Canterbury at home in the NPC final on Saturday night, winning 26-18 over the fancied Cantabs.

Crowley’s main area of contention was the non-selection of midfielder Billy Proctor, an omission he was at a loss to explain.

“Billy Proctor hardly played a game for us last year (due to injury) – he’s an outstanding player,” Crowley told Sky Sport NZ’s post-match panel.

“Why he’s not in the All Blacks XV squad, I will never know.

“We had a few points to prove but deep down this team has just come together so well, and believe in themselves now.”

The crowded midfield saw Tasman’s Levi Aumua, 33-year-old Bryce Heem and breakout Hurricanes’ centre Bailyn Sullivan picked for the two-match tour.

While Aumua was originally picked for the XV, he will now join the main All Blacks squad as cover after a calf injury to Dane Coles.

Aumua was at his damaging best in the provincial final, steamrolling a few Canterbury defenders on the way to key second half try that gave the Lions a crucial buffer.

The Lions bullied Canterbury for long periods with the red and blacks unable to arrest control under the weight of defence.

“I think what was the real difference was that we had real firepower, they’re a good structure and unit but we just beat with our real individual talent,” Wellington lock Dominic Bird told 1News.

“They’re predictable and very structured but you don’t need to be an insider to know that,” says Bird.