Victory in republic tops Henry's hitlist

Stage One complete, the All Black selectors will spend the next fortnight working out how best to attack the final stage of the Tri-Nations series.

And top of their thinking will be how to redress the column which says Never Won in Africa.

Test victories, under Graham Henry's tutelage, have risen to 26 after the Bledisloe Cup was retained in Brisbane on Saturday while the side has been defeated in only three internationals.

The Lions were destroyed, a Grand Slam won and the trophy cabinet has accommodated the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup trophies.

No nation has matched that record since the last World Cup as the All Blacks have taken over the top rating in world rugby. They have also led the way in changing tradition, rotating players in the search for their most complete 2007 Cup squad.

This winter, the selectors have used 40 players in six tests as part of that process.

Now the curiosity is how Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore deal with their final three Tri-Nations tests on successive weekends - against the Wallabies on August 19 then the arduous trip to South Africa where they will play the Springboks at altitude at Pretoria and Rustenburg. In the previous two seasons under Henry the All Blacks have perished at Ellis Park and Newlands.

The coach envisaged a change or two to his squad. Ma'a Nonu would not be reinstated though as his broken thumb had not healed.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu was on the selectors' hitlist but that idea may be revised after he twisted his ankle in the opening round of the national championship.

Ideas will be finalised during a brief All Black camp in Christchurch next week before they disperse again until the week of the Eden Park match with the Wallabies.

It may be time to try a few of the alternate XV against the Wallabies to see how they handle the blowtorch from a tougher opponent than Ireland or Argentina.

That would also allow some of the elite, players such as captain Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter, Carl Hayman and Chris Jack, to be as fresh as possible for Pretoria.

Or will the selectors treat the last three tests as the sudden-death segment of a World Cup campaign? Even though the travel schedule is markedly different will they stick as close as possible to their first-choice side?

That scenario remains unlikely given the panel's intent to scrutinise as many players as possible and the belief they can replicate their World Cup concepts on the end-of-year tour to Europe.

The All Blacks posted their 13th consecutive win on Saturday as their defensive wall held.

Assistant coach Hansen predicted it would take a special effort to overcome the All Blacks if they maintained that sort of spirit.

Sometimes defeat was necessary to spur a team but the All Blacks were not yet in need of that stimulus. It was a team with character, heart and guts. "It was a long time there without the ball and they just kept fronting up. You can't buy that."