Gregor Paul: The impossible All Blacks equation

Ben Lam's stunning form for the Hurricanes should see him crack the squad. Photo / Getty

It is going to be a strangely contrasting job for the All Blacks selectors picking their squad to play France this June with the barrel being scraped as they look for props and a quite ridiculous number of outside backs to be accommodated and nowhere near enough room for them all.

How things wash up will depend on how the selectors prioritise their strategic objectives in terms of what positions they feel they need to develop and how they plan to work their various combinations in the three-test series against France.

They have an obvious need to build their depth at first-five, find another No 8 in the absence of captain Kieran Read and possibly begin grooming a third halfback.

The All Blacks will need a new 8 and captain against France. Photo/ Photosport

They will also be asking whether, given the probability that Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are likely to be heavily involved, they need four locks in the 33-man squad and can they get away with using just two hookers in Codie Taylor and Nathan Harris?

They will need to determine areas where they can be frugal as it were because there may well be a few players - two in particular - they want to take a look at in June before they have to make even tougher decisions for the Rugby Championship when they have to carry a smaller squad.

Ben Lam has made a compelling case for inclusion, scoring nine tries and demonstrating in doing so that he has incredible pace, raw power and finely honed finishers' instincts.

There has been genuine quality about his work and it won't have gone unnoticed that he's been prolific against fellow New Zealand sides, taking on the best and getting the better of them.

Sometimes the selectors have their hand forced by the form of an individual and this would seem to be one of those cases.

Players have to believe they will be rewarded if they provide definitive evidence of their readiness and Lam could hardly have done more to say he is ready.

He's also the sort of athlete the All Blacks will fancy can transition relatively quickly and comfortably from Super Rugby to test football and they would most likely want that theory tested in June and then use what they see there to determine the next steps.

The other player possibly forcing their hand is Jack Goodhue. The Crusaders midfielder has been in and around the squad in the last 12 months but hasn't yet played a test.

Like Lam, he's played with such authority, consistency and creativity in 2018 that it feels like he's earned the right to see whether he can do that at the next level.

Jack Goodhue has impressed with the Crusaders this season. Photo / Photosport

But how to fit them in when others such as Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo continue to perform as well as they do?

Israel Dagg has also made a return to action and it's hard to imagine the All Blacks will discard his experience, versatility and proven ability to perform until they have an overwhelming reason to.

Nehe Milner-Skudder is also back playing and he brings a unique skill-set that the coaches won't feel good about leaving out of their mix.

It's the same in the midfield where Ngani Laumape has again been exceptional as he was last year and would it be a just decision to leave him or Anton Lienert-Brown out for Goodhue to work alongside the likely first choice pairing of Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty?

If the selectors want to make room for Lam and Goodhue then perhaps it will be Luke Romano or Patrick Tuipulotu that miss out. Maybe Matt Todd or Ardie Savea will have to miss out to create space for a third halfback.

The only certainty is that no matter what strategic goals the selectors priotitise, there are going to be several good players hearing bad news later next month when the squad is finalised.

To get the day's top sports stories in your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here