New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named Scott Barrett as captain for Tests against England and Fiji in July and included five uncapped players in his first squad since taking over from Ian Foster.
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Lock Barrett, 30, will have his centre brother Jordie and reigning World Player of the Year Ardie Savea to support him as vice-captains when New Zealand take on England in Dunedin and Auckland and the Fijians in San Diego.
"There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important," said Robertson, who coached Barrett for seven years at the Crusaders.
"He's tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he's got the respect of the players and coaches."
Young gun Wallace Sititi earned the opportunity to win his first cap with a breakout season for the Chiefs but there was no place for his fellow No.8 Hoskins Sotutu, who had an outstanding season for the Super Rugby champion Blues.
Injuries to Cam Roigard and Samisoni Taukei'aho have opened up opportunities for Cortez Ratima and George Bell to get into the squad at halfback and hooker respectively, while Hurricanes prop Pasilio Tosi was a surprise pick.
Centre Billy Proctor was the fifth uncapped player named but his Hurricanes teammate Ruben Love, one of the standouts of the Super Rugby season at fullback, will join the 32-man squad only as injury cover.
Damian McKenzie and the third Barrett brother, Beauden, were named to vie for the five eighth position left vacant by Richie Mo'unga's departure for Japan at the end of last year's Rugby World Cup.
Stephen Perofeta was the only fullback included in the outside backs but whichever one of McKenzie or Beauden Barrett misses out on the playmaker slot is likely to fill the number 15 shirt.
Halfback TJ Perenara and lock Patrick Tuipulotu, the Blues skipper, both return to the squad after missing the World Cup campaign in France through injury.
Previous captain Sam Cane was not considered because of injury, the team said, suggesting the flanker could play a part in the Rugby Championship later this year despite announcing he would be quitting Test rugby at the end of the season.
Roberston said the selectors spent most time on their back-row options.
"My big thing for loose forwards is for them to be great on both sides of the ball, mentally tough and physically tough and that's why we've selected the players we have," he said.
"As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we've selected," he added. "We know it's a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024."
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi
Backs: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a.
Australian Associated Press
