All Blacks: Anxious for the call-up

All Black captain Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

The World Cup waiting might be worst in Kumeu and Hamilton.

While some All Blacks will feel the cold rejection after tomorrow's test in Port Elizabeth, they will get the message in person while others on the cusp of tournament selection in New Zealand will fret about some evidence on their mobile phones.

Men like injured lock Anthony Boric out in West Auckland or damaged wing Sitiveni Sivivatu in the Waikato, will be edgy for the next few days as the countdown to Tuesday's announcement grinds on.

Those who are in South Africa and miss the World Cup will fly to Auckland while senior All Blacks resting here are due to fly to Brisbane on Monday and may be joined there by the rest of the tournament squad.

Boric has not played for two months after damaging ligaments in his foot but he is programmed to play for North Harbour in their final ITM Cup match next Friday.

"I've been doing some training with the physios and it feels pretty good," he said yesterday.

"It's a whole lot better than the operation, screws and six months out of the game that was talked about at one stage."

Boric has played 20 tests for the All Blacks and with Brad Thorn, Ali Williams and Sam Whitelock, gives the side a strong lineout, scrummaging and core to the tight forwards. The latter pair start for the All Blacks tomorrow in Port Elizabeth as they meet the Boks for the last time in the Tri-Nations.

The tourists have Jarrad Hoeata in the reserves and he is probably in that category for the World Cup as well, if the national selectors believe Boric's fitness and experience will be ready for the tournament next month.

If lock is an awkward choice, picking fullbacks and wings is torture - for the contenders and the selectors. Sivivatu is in the middle of that debate and can do nothing about it.

He has a damaged eye-socket and is hoping his 45 test credentials and nifty work on the left and right wings against Fiji and the Wallabies will get him to another tournament. If selection is weighted on experience, Sivivatu will squeak in but his Super 15 form was so ordinary he was only an original standby squad selection.

The general framework will be to choose two fullbacks and three wings. Mils Muliaina will be the primary fullback and his deputy and alternate wing should be Israel Dagg if he survives this test.

Ever since Isaia Toeava was anointed as the "special project" and been fit, he has been a regular choice. He is apparently in rude rugby health again and a robust production on the right wing should cement his Cup selection as a utility.

Hosea Gear suits up on the left flank where his speed, size and strength allow him to outstrip defences or stay on his feet in the tackle and keep the ball alive for teammates - attributes which suit the All Black game plan. He is safe under the high ball too and offers an alternate style to the others.

When the panel talk about Cory Jane in form, their eyes glow and that alignment looks set to resume for the World Cup after he hit the go-button against the Boks in Wellington.

That leaves an unlucky group of Zac Guildford, Ben Smith and perhaps Sivivatu.

Tomorrow, a concentrated tight performance from Liam Messam will help him claim the final loose forward role. He must be favoured to stay in the group but accurate play will also be wanted.

Then of course there is the small matter of the result. Momentum is a huge component for any side and a stumble tomorrow and, heaven forbid, a slip in Brisbane would be a calamitous entree for the World Cup.