By WYNNE GRAY
Uncertainty shrouds the selection of the All Black and England sides as they prepare for their sellout Twickenham test in three weeks.
England have got to base one with the public announcement of a squad for the November 9 test, but the All Blacks' touring group will not be revealed until October 28, once the NPC final is complete.
Injuries have removed Reuben Thorne, Anton Oliver, Tom Willis, Royce Willis, David Hill and Ron Cribb from the tour, and Daryl Gibson and Bruce Reihana's moves overseas have taken them out of contention.
All Black coach John Mitchell wants to rest more of his senior players, but that wish cannot be deemed concrete until his touring group of 26 is revealed.
There is similar ambiguity about the England test team. Coach Clive Woodward has picked a group of 33, with an additional squad of 13 younger men who will receive individual tuition and also train with the senior members.
Several players in his main group will not be available against the All Blacks.
Prop Julian White is serving a 10-week ban for headbutting and Dan Luger and Ian Balshaw are recovering from serious injuries.
Observers say Woodward has not been impressed with the form of some frontline players with expectations England should win two if not all three of their November tests against the Sanzar nations.
Usual skipper Martin Johnson has been battling and is in competition with Danny Grewcock, Ben Kay and the promising Tom Palmer to lock the middle of the scrum.
If Johnson misses, there is a chance tighthead prop Phil Vickery could be made captain.
Vickery, Richard Hill, Jonny Wilkinson, Will Greenwood, Ben Cohen and Jason Robinson are considered cast-iron selections.
Competition for other places is busy, although there is not great depth in the front row and the threequarters.
With an eye on the World Cup and the need for back-up, Woodward is keen to try Wilkinson at second five-eighths, with Charlie Hodgson picked to run the backline.
It would also push Greenwood out to cover some centre weakness, but the coach does not want to use that experiment for the opening test against the All Blacks.
Nor is he keen that Wilkinson play a club game for Newcastle against London Irish on the weekend before the test, but at the moment he has been unable to clear the five-eighths.
There are a number of halfback choices where Kyran Bracken, Matt Dawson and Andy Gomersall are all competing well, and the loose-forward mix is also intriguing with Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back not as sharp as Joe Worsley and Lewis Moody.
Hooker and loosehead prop are not clearcut decisions.
Mark Regan and Steve Thompson, a man reputed to be of similar dimensions to the huge Wallaby hooker Tommy Lawton, are scrapping for a place, while the steady Graham Rowntree, Trevor Woodman and ageing Jason Leonard are duelling for the loosehead side of the scrum.
In the midfield, Greenwood will partner Mike Tindall, who is a strong but unsubtle player. The magical Jason Robinson will glide around from fullback.
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