Lightning winger Sevu Reece is one of four new faces in an extended All Blacks squad while bullocking centre Ma'a Nonu has missed the cut.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named a 39-man squad for the side's opening Tests against Argentina and South Africa with Reece, Crusaders teammate Braydon Ennor, Highlanders flyhalf Josh Ioane and Chiefs backrower Luke Jacobson the four squad first-timers.
Props Asafu Aumua and Atu Moli are the only other uncapped players in the squad.
Nonu's World Cup chances appear all but over after the 37-year-old was omitted from the squad.
The Test veteran returned to Super Rugby this season in a bid to push for a World Cup squad but failed to force his way into contention.
Chiefs halfback Brad Weber has been rewarded for his super season with a recall, leapfrogging Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi into the squad.
A host of the Crusaders group are likely to be rested for that opening clash against Argentina with the Canterbury side to play their third consecutive Super Rugby final this weekend, leaving them little time to recover for Test duties.
Curiously, Highlanders loose forward Liam Squire has made himself unavailable for selection saying "Liam Squire has also made himself unavailable as he felt he wasn’t ready to return to international rugby at this stage"
Squire has had an injury-riddled season but featured for the Highlanders in their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Bulls a fortnight ago.
Ryan Crotty, Scott Barrett, Damien McKenzie and Tim Perry are also unavailable because of injury.
Hansen said the team was ready to get stuck in ahead of a big 2019 international season, culminating in September's World Cup.
“It’s really exciting bringing the team together and we’re all looking forward to starting the work towards this year’s goals," he said.
"We’re going to try and do something that’s never been done before and that’s to win three Rugby World Cups in a row.
"However, that’s not a given. We’re going to have to be hungry for success and we’re going to have to work incredibly hard and smart to achieve this.
“Whilst recapturing the Rugby World Cup and the Bledisloe Cup are two of the end goals for the year, we have to deal with the here and now, which is getting ready to face two quality oppositions in Argentina and South Africa.”
SQUAD
All Blacks squad for Tests against Argentina and South Africa
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, uncapped)
Dane Coles (32, Hurricanes / Wellington, 60)
Liam Coltman (29, Highlanders / Otago, 4)
Codie Taylor (28, Crusaders / Canterbury, 41)
Props
Owen Franks (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 106)
Nepo Laulala (27, Chiefs / Counties Manukau, 17)
Joe Moody (30, Crusaders /Canterbury, 37)
Atu Moli (24, Chiefs / Tasman, uncapped)
Angus Ta’avao (29, Chiefs / Taranaki, 3)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (26, Blues / North Harbour, 13)
Ofa Tuungafasi (27, Blues / Auckland, 26)
Locks
Brodie Retallick (28, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 75)
Patrick Tuipulotu (26, Blues / Auckland, 21)
Samuel Whitelock (30, Crusaders / Canterbury, 108)
Utility Forward
Jackson Hemopo (25, Highlanders / Manawatu,3)
Backrowers
Sam Cane (27, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 60)
Vaea Fifita (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 9)
Shannon Frizell (25, Highlanders / Tasman, 4)
Luke Jacobson (22, Chiefs / Waikato, new cap)
Dalton Papalii (21, Blues / Auckland, 2)
Kieran Read (33, Crusaders / Counties Manukau, 118) — Captain
Ardie Savea (25, Hurricanes / Wellington, 35)
Matt Todd (31, Crusaders / Canterbury, 17)
BACKS
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 55)
Aaron Smith (30, Highlanders / Manawatu, 82)
Brad Weber (28, Chiefs / Hawke’s Bay, 1)
Flyhalves
Beauden Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 73)
Josh Ioane (23, Highlanders / Otago, new cap)
Richie Mo’unga (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 9)
Centres
Jack Goodhue (24, Crusaders / Northland, 7)
Ngani Laumape (26, Hurricanes / Manawatu, 10)
Anton Lienert-Brown (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 33)
Sonny Bill Williams (33, Blues / Counties Manukau, 51)
Utility Backs
Braydon Ennor (21, Crusaders / Canterbury, new cap)
Jordie Barrett (22, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 9)
Outside backs
George Bridge (Crusaders / Canterbury, 1)
Rieko Ioane (22, Blues / Auckland, 24)
Sevu Reece (22, Crusaders / Waikato, new cap)
Ben Smith (33, Highlanders /Otago, 76)
