KEY POINTS:
LYON - The injury to Nick Evans has created a serious quandary for the All Blacks.
Having nominated Evans as understudy to first five-eighths Daniel Carter, the selectors showed their hand in the opening test against England. That scheme fell apart when Evans strained his hamstring.
It could
get even messier if the twin tests against France do not go according to plan, as the temptation to retain the peerless Carter will be powerful.
But, in road-testing their World Cup strategies, the All Blacks need to use Evans in either Paris or Cardiff.
They have tried Chris Masoe as an openside flanker this season to gauge if he can deputise for Richie McCaw.
They must give Evans a similar opportunity if he is to be part of the 2007 World Cup. Using Carter in that entire campaign may be tempting fate with one of the team's greatest assets.
If he were removed by injury as he was in last year's Tri-Nations series, what is the solution? The selectors have spoken about avoiding the quicksand the previous regime fell into in 2003 when Tana Umaga's knee gave out.
When Carter was hurt before the third Lions test, Luke McAlister took his place and later, when Carter broke his leg, Leon MacDonald took over his duties for two tests.
On the end of year trip to the UK, Evans was a late replacement for the injured McAlister and played two tests at first five-eighths. The roles were reversed this season when Evans damaged his collarbone.
The noises since have been about McAlister being looked at more in midfield, where to these eyes he looks better suited.
Evans seems to play with his head up more than McAlister in the pivot role, he does not appear to be so premeditated while he has great speed and punting ability.
Defence? Not so sure but neither is in the same class there as Carter.
No matter the result of the test against France in Lyon today, serious thought must be given to pitching a fit Evans into action in Paris.
Were Carter not available for a playoff test in the World Cup, the options have to be investigated. Those sort of alternatives may be behind the slightly ambiguous selection statements made by the coaching staff before the start of this tour.
Once they had used most of the 32 players in the initial two tests, the best 22 would be chosen for the final two. Not the top 22 but the best.
That "best" could mean the most appropriate, on the evidence of the tour results, recovery from injury or for future evaluation for next year.
There have also been hints that some - like McCaw, Carter and Carl Hayman, may play all four - which would do little for research on Evans.
Meanwhile, French coach Bernard Laporte has run into a similar dilemma. His preferred five eighths, Frederic Michalak, is injured and will be replaced by midfielder Damien Traille in today's test.
Since 2003, Laporte has relied on the enigmatic Michalak without ever disclosing his deputy. Traille has played all but one of his 46 tests in midfield but that solitary outing against the Springboks this year, showed his solid tactical acumen, powerful boot and running skills.
A meeting with Carter will be an invaluable comparison for Traille and Laporte but quite where the coach goes is anybody's guess as he has used 13 first five-eighths in his 77-test regime.
