KEY POINTS:
It makes sense to All Black coach Graham Henry if his side plays every test this season under the old laws.
Those rules will return in place of the experimental laws for the initial domestic tests against Ireland and England and will be used when the All Blacks
make their end of year Grand Slam challenge. Henry felt it best for coaching, playing and spectators' continuity that the old rules carried through the Tri-Nations series.
Henry offered those observations yesterday as the All Black coaches, players and NZRU officials gathered in Auckland to listen to a variety of speakers including Broncos coach Wayne Bennett and former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan, discuss their views on leadership.
The All Black coach thought action from the weekend showed a lift in standards halfway through the Super 14 although he noted the consistent difficulties at the breakdown. He liked the way the ELVs were working but gave no hints how that would impact on the choice of the initial 26-man All Black squad.
So here is an interim New Zealand selection, a mid-series form XV report as the Crusaders head for their bye on a seven-game unbeaten streak but with chief playmaker Daniel Carter forecast to be out of action for about six weeks with a serious ankle injury.
It is perhaps no surprise, when totting up the team, that half the side are Crusaders. Their collective calibre has proved too potent for any rivals so far while the unbeaten Sharks are the best of the South African sides and heading this way while the Force are leading the Australian challenge.
Leon MacDonald shades Mils Muliaina as fullback at the moment, he has started stronger with his mix of kicking and counterattack benefiting from his side's structure.
It was great to see the liquid evasiveness Sitiveni Sivivatu return at the weekend: he has been involved this series, he looks sharp and wants the ball.
The other wing, in name only, will be Ma'a Nonu. He makes mistakes but he has wreaked consistent damage, has improved his workload and can slot into play anywhere once first phase is over.
The other contenders have dipped in production with the speedy Lelia Masaga and hustling Anthony Tuitavake the best of the rest.
Centre offers the judgment between Casey Laulala and Isaia Toeava with Richard Kahui not having had enough games yet because of injury.
Laulala has been agile and strong on his feet and certain with his defence, and he has reduced his handling errors while Toeava is still prone to those lapses and can drift in matches - advantage Laulala.
After the exits of Luke McAlister, Aaron Mauger and Sam Tuitupou, the choice of second five-eighths is perhaps the most contentious. Benson Stanley has been highly steady with the Blues; he makes good decisions, has a neat step, defends strongly and has a keen left boot. But Stephen Brett was showing just that extra bit of attacking snap and flair - backed up by his combination with Laulala and Carter, he has a slim edge.
Carter has directed the Crusaders superbly at first five-eighth, his game is a tick above the very competent Nick Evans. Likewise at halfback where the speed of Brendon Leonard's pass is crucial to give crowded attack lines precious time while his pace in cover or support sets him ahead of the tireless Jimmy Cowan and efficient Andrew Ellis.
Rodney So'oialo's greater workrate gives him the nod over Mose Tuiali'i with the imperious Richie McCaw well in front for the openside job on performance not just reputation.
The hard-grafting support play of blindside flanker Kieran Read has been impressive, his error count is low, tackle rate high and he has been more disciplined than Jerry Collins, more involved than Jerome Kaino.
The new and recycled Crusaders, Ali Williams and Brad Thorn, have quickly dovetailed on set-piece locking duties while they are invariably prominent outside those core roles.
Big ticks for those two and also a mention for Hoani MacDonald but sightings of Troy Flavell and Jason Eaton have been rarer. The Highlanders have the meanest mullets in the frontrow but John Afoa at tighthead has started with a rush while his Blues loosehead Tony Woodcock does not miss a beat.
Between those bookends is the Hurricanes hooker Andrew Hore who will gain from their scrummaging supremacy.
Hore's lineout throwing has tightened while his energy in the middle of driving play is unbending. He has laid down a huge challenge to another dynamo Keven Mealamu.
