The World Cup is more than two years away and already there must be a few players in or close to the squad who are starting to get edgy about whether they will make the final cut.
Good players are once again falling out of trees. A few first-fives break down; no problem, there's a handy bloke called Tom Taylor patiently waiting and another by the name of Slade who not so long ago was the heir apparent.
Ben Smith scored a hat-trick in Sydney and has been the outstanding outside back of 2013. Yet when Cory Jane returns from knee surgery, Smith might only make the bench.
Then there is the prospect of Sonny Bill Williams returning - next year or in 2015. Regardless of when he comes home, Williams will present one of the tougher choices - him or Ma'a Nonu at second-five.
What if Jerome Kaino decides to come back, too? He'll be competing with Liam Messam, Steven Luatua and the recently called up Brad Shields and Luke Whitelock, not to mention Victor Vito.