Andrew Durante

My guess. Hudson works out that Dura isn't one of his first string CBs (behind Reid, Smith etc) and wants to spend spare squad space developing younger players seeing as Dura won't go much past the next WC anyway. He tells Dura this, but gives him the option of going out with some face, by retiring for family reasons. Dura obliges, because he is a nice guy not inclined to air dirty laundry.

Thats exactly how I see it as well.

That's entirely possible. Besides, he isn't getting any younger and probably realized that, since we are unlikely to qualify (and it's unlikely that he would play anyway) for the next World Cup - he decided to cut some extra training and travelling time to focus on his A-League career and young family?

Well played Dura, well played Hudson :)

I think Durante is fantastic

And I disagree with your statement..

1. No one has a right to a jersey

They aren't given out for being nice, or available

They go to the best players, the aim is to field your best team in the games that count, to win.

The friendly against Mynamar doesn't count, as Hudson has admitted by excluding several players, Smith, and Wood/others. (Good compromise I think to ensure they are available when it counts)

2. Smith is a better footballer than Durante. Plays consistently in a higher league and is one of the first names written down when picking the All Whites. 

3.Dont forget that Durante was interested in being picked for Australia as a senior / was in a squad / on the bench for a friendly IIRC and then turned to NZ.

Whereas Smith was not involved as a senior, played for England u17, u18 and then for NZ, was available for NZ earlier, still is and has been captain. 

Durante lives in NZ, his kids were born in NZ, NZ is his home. He chose to live in NZ and make it his home. Smith lived here as a child, he had no choice in the matter, and has shown that he is only willing to play for NZ if it suits him.

So Durante has more right to it as he has more commitment to NZ, past Soceroo experience not withstanding. Ideally players that represent NZ should be New Zealanders either by growing up here or by showing a commitment to this country, not people with some tenuous link.

I realise that this isn't how Football works, and that if we only chose Kiwi's who grew up here or have decided as adults to settle here we would have a shark house football team so we need to get players from wherever we can. That doesn't mean I agree that its right to have these people who have nothing to do with us represent us.

Lots of  obvious holes in your argument, but I dont want to prolong it here, this is a thread about our captain, a great player and great servant of the club

Good to see.  Am happy my suspicions were wrong.

Sounds like pretty much what I said! :)