KEY POINTS:
Rival forwards Troy Flavell and Reuben Thorne may have to bail the All Blacks out of their locking crisis.
The utility duo were probably inked in to take on Canada in Saturday's final domestic imitation international as a way of preserving their frontline locks for the Tri-Nations.
That
functional concept looks as though it will now be forced on the All Blacks after injury claimed Ali Williams and Keith Robinson during their record 61-10 victory against France.
Their exit, after the season-ending injuries for Jason Eaton and James Ryan, has put extra heat on the side's locking resources.
Junior All Blacks Greg Rawlinson and Ross Filipo have been drafted into the squad for the test in Hamilton but they look unlikely starters.
Rawlinson was reported to be a bit banged up after his latest stint against Tonga and needed a medical check when the team reassembled on Wednesday.
He would be familiar with the basic All Black strategies after his time with the side last season but Filipo could need time to acclimatise. Asking Chris Jack to front again this weekend would be a risk, given the injury rate and the Tri-Nations start against the Springboks in Durban a week later.
The All Black selectors signalled their intention to play those against Canada who had not been heavily involved in the two tests against the under-strength French, players such as John Schwalger, Doug Howlett, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata and the recovering Mils Muliaina and Daniel Carter.
They also mentioned their determination to discover how regular blindside flanker Thorne could adapt his game to the rigours of locking duties - a curiosity which has been thrust on them this week.
They could start Jack and Thorne together as a locking combination and use Flavell as a blindside flanker, but that would not give any locking choices the chance of a rest before the Tri-Nations.
The other idea might be to classify both Rawlinson and Filipo as ex-pendable locks against a Canadian side which was crushed 59-23 recently by the NZ Maori side.
But that would go against coach Graham Henry's observations on the health of international rugby.
Flavell has started 10 of his 19 tests at lock while Thorne has played just twice there for the All Blacks in games against Japan in 2000 and the Barbarians in 2004, which did not register as part of his 46-test career.
The prognosis on Williams and Robinson was not flash. Williams had surgery yesterday and is expected to be out of rugby for about eight weeks with his return likely to be limited to a few national championship games before the All Blacks leave for the World Cup.
He broke his jaw when attempting to tackle a rampaging Sebastien Chabal, while Robinson fell to his Wellington injury jinx. He missed a test in 2004 when he injured his back after being picked to play the Wallabies and on Saturday damaged his calf in the warmup to the match - the same injury which eliminated him from the early stages of the Super 14.
In 28 minutes Jack went from the third-rated lock to the premier practitioner as he replaced Robinson and then saw Williams head for hospital.
Flavell, who had trained heavily in the morning, was suddenly shifted from the grandstand to the reserves bench then the playing XV.
Henry said his panel was concerned, naturally, for their players' welfare and at the locking predicament, but there was plenty of time for Williams and Robinson to recover and be matchfit for the September start to the World Cup.
Williams had looked sharp against France while Robinson was denied his first hitout since the Chiefs' final-round win against the Crusaders.
INJURIES - A REAL PAIN
* Jason Eaton
World Cup campaign ends week 13 of Super 14, anterior cruciate ligament.
* James Ryan
World Cup exit week 10 Super 14, anterior cruciate ligament.
* Ali Williams
Exits Tri-Nations on Saturday, broken jaw.
* Keith Robinson
Tri-Nations uncertain, torn calf muscle.