WELLINGTON: New All Blacks coach Steve Hansen sprang a major surprise yeeterday when he picked Piri Weepu in the 30-man squad to face Ireland this month and discarded fellow World Cup-winning scrumhalf Andy Ellis.
Weepu, who had achieved folk hero status at last year's World Cup with his goalkicking and all-round play, had been under orders to meet weight targets at recent training camps after showing up for Super Rugby unfit and overweight.
Ellis had performed well behind the Canterbury Crusaders pack this season, while Weepu's Auckland Blues have struggled all season.
"I have been the topic of talk for the last five months, every possible angle that people could take," Weepu told Radio Sport. "I'm not worried about what they say, because at the end of the day those type of comments I don't worry about.
"I'm just excited to be here after all the crap."
Weepu named in All Blacks squad
