Rugby: Pair stay home as ABs try other combos

Daniel Carter had a great game against Argentina on Friday night. Photo / Getty Images

Daniel Carter and Sonny Bill Williams have not travelled to South Africa as the All Blacks remain true to their word of trying to give everyone in their 41-man squad a chance to stake a claim for World Cup inclusion.

Head coach Steve Hansen stressed that nothing should be read into the decision other than it reflects the long-stated ambition to be fair and allow everyone a chance to show what they have got.

Carter, having played two good games in succession, has clarified beyond doubt he's the best No10 in the country and absolutely the right guy for the All Blacks.

The selectors want to see Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade and perhaps even Lima Sopoaga in action in South Africa. That's partly driven by the knowledge that first-fives can come in for heavy physical punishment and are exposed to injury.

Barrett, Slade and Sopoaga all need to be ready to play at No10 if needed. Knowing he's unlikely to play, there seemed little point in dragging Carter to the Republic.

The same is true of Williams, who was outstanding on Friday night. Conrad Smith and Malakai Fekitoa haven't featured yet this season.

"We are trying to juggle," said Hansen. "We are trying to pick the right team and also give people opportunity and rest some other people. In the case of DC and Sonny, they have come off really good games and normally if we were going with a squad of 31, both would be in it.

"Sonny has got a busy schedule so we thought he'd be better having some time at home. We thought DC could do with being at home as well."

The intensity of a full-blooded test in South Africa will provide the selectors with plenty of information about a handful of players they remain unsure about.

It will be an opportunity to see if Barrett or Slade is best placed to run at No10 should anything happen to Carter at the World Cup.

Both are likely to make the 31 because they are incredibly versatile. They are fantastic options to have on the bench, but while Barrett has played first-five all year for the Hurricanes, his best All Black performances have been at fullback.

Sopoaga has possibly been in better form than both but is disadvantaged by his lack of experience at this level. But with his goal-kicking having come good and his confidence sky high, there will be a willingness to get Sopoaga on the field to see what he can do.

The midfield situation is also posing a few questions, as Williams, Ma'a Nonu and Smith would appear certainties, with Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty in a battle for one place, perhaps.

"We are just trying to find what is the best 31," said Hansen.

"We are trying to build combinations and find versatility as well because you can't replace players in the World Cup and then use them again. Once you replace them, then they are gone.

"So we are just building on what we are trying to do as a team and making sure that with a squad of 41 that if we do have to bring people in, then we have had guys who have had a taste of it and understand what it is like and can fit in pretty easily."