KEY POINTS:
If Richie McCaw is not going to be fit enough to play against Samoa, then the All Black selectors have a great opportunity to try an alternative, specialist openside.
We saw when McCaw was injured earlier in the season that shifting someone like Rodney So'oialo across to cover,
doesn't really work. We really need a specialist to be wearing No 7 and we really need to find someone who can back McCaw up.
The big worry is that without a back-up, McCaw is going to have to play a lot of tests. He's going to have to play 80 minutes week in, week out and we just need to be careful we don't burn him out.
What surprises me and also concerns me is that right across the country we have not seen a number seven stand up and say that he is one notch behind the All Black captain.
In the past couple of years we had guys like Marty Holah and Josh Blackie who were class operators and good enough to play at the highest level.
But right now, we just don't have anyone there yet. Tanerau Latimer is probably getting close although I think, judging by what the selectors have said, Daniel Braid is going to get the nod.
Braid is a good Super 14 player but I'm not sure he's quite All Black material. He's not as abrasive as McCaw and nor is he as technically sound.
The other option could be to try someone unknown. I know Victor Vito has been playing on the blindside for Wellington but he's definitely quick enough to play No 7 - although I'm not sure what his scavenging skills are like.
Or they could even throw in someone like Luke Braid who played so well for the New Zealand under-20s. They would probably see that as too big a leap but these guys have to take the leap at some stage.
The other question that is raised whenever McCaw is unavailable is where is the next All Black captain coming from?
Obviously So'oialo can step in and do the job as he did in the first few Tri Nations games. But long-term, do we have anyone who is captain material?
McCaw is becoming a very good leader now and I was impressed with the way he handled the criticism of the World Cup defeat.
Having played with Buck Shelford, I know that when things got tough, Buck would put his head down and played even harder.
McCaw has done much the same thing. He seems to be determined to show everyone how good he is and he's playing with that little bit more desire.
He's also been prepared to ask more questions and be more vocal.
He could now go on to become a great All Black leader.