Rugby World Cup 2019: All Blacks ‘great’ Owen Franks left out of 31-man New Zealand squad

A recent drop in form has seen Northampton Saints prop Owen Franks miss out on selection as New Zealand named the squad tasked to win an unprecedented third straight Rugby World Cup.

Franks, 31, will not contest his third tournament in Japan this year after a poor showing in his final season for the Canterbury Crusaders before signing with the Premiership Rugby side.

The tighthead, who has played 108 Tests for his country, was replaced in the front row by 24-year-old Atu Moli of the Waikato Chiefs.

"He certainly has shown true character," Hansen said. "Unfortunately ... we believe the game requires us to have big, mobile No 1s and No 3s and in this case we feel the guys we've named are more-so than he. Therefore, we had to make a tough decision.

"I'm very respectful of how he coped with it — it's a mark of the man."

Hansen also described Franks as "one of the great All Blacks."

Powerful centre Ngani Laumape, 26, and experienced back-rower Liam Squire, 28, also missed out on spots on the plane.

Coach Steve Hansen preferred four centres ahead of Laumape - Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jack Goodhue and Ryan Crotty - with the latter three picked despite recent injuries.

Squire was not picked after injuries kept him out of Test rugby this year, with Hansen instead selecting one-cap flanker Luke Jacobson.

"We had a really good phone call and discussed things," Hansen said. "While Liam is playing really well for Tasman and is enjoying his rugby, at the conclusion of the conversation it was agreed he would make himself available if he was required as a replacement."

On Jacobson, Hansen added: "He's an ex-Under-20s captain, he understands the game really well, his defensive work is outstanding, his ability to get into the ruck and cause havoc there is outstanding and he's a good ball carrier. It's exciting where he could end up. If he stays injury-free he could have a long career in the All Blacks jersey."

A dislocated shoulder suffered in New Zealand's Rugby Championship draw with South Africa means lock Brodie Retallick, 28, will not play in pool matches in Japan but is expected to be passed fit for the knockout stages.

Richie Mo'unga has been named as the All Blacks' starting fly-half, where the 25-year-old will continue his potent playmaking combination from the previous three Tests with full-back Beauden Barrett.

Interestingly, Hansen has also named three non-specialist fly-halves in centres Ryan Crotty and Jordie Barrett and half-back TJ Perenara.

Back-rower Kieran Read, 33, will lead the squad to his first World Cup as captain, with longstanding utility back Ben Smith, 33, picked as his deputy.

Read, Williams and lock Sam Whitelock will all be participating in their third iteration of rugby's premier competition, but Hansen has overall preferred youth with 19 of the 31-man squad tournament debutants.

Hansen said: "This Rugby World Cup looks like being the most fiercely-contested yet with a large number of teams all believing they can win.

"This will bring possibly more pressure and expectation on them than ever before and it will be interesting to see who can and who can't cope with it."

New Zealand's tournament begins against South Africa in Yokahama on 21 September.

Props: Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tuungafasi.

Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor.

Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock.

Back-rows: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd.

Scrum-halves: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber.

Fly-halves: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga.

Centres: Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams.

Back-three: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith.

PA and AP