KEY POINTS:
Stand by for the curtainraiser to the World Cup in France, with All Blacks desperate to turn in winning auditions for a place on the big stage next year.
Ten outsiders will seek to impose their presence on Graham Henry and his fellow national rugby selectors during the
All Blacks' four-test northern hemisphere tour.
With the World Cup starting 15 likely to resemble the side that took the field in the Tri-Nations match in Brisbane in July, bench players in that game also have a foot "inside the door".
A few of the starting 15 and bench players will have a major task consolidating their places.
Players such as Waikato lock Keith Robinson, Otago first five-eighth Nick Evans and Wellington midfielder Ma'a Nonu are challenging on this four-test trip.
The midfield combination, a locking partner to Chris Jack and the best back-three combination appear to be likely to provide the main selection quandaries leading up to the Cup.
All Blacks coaching staff have suggested they will use different combinations in the first two tests -- against England and France -- before the strongest 22 are chosen for the second test against France and against Wales.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith said the trip would be crucial in building towards the World Cup.
"You'll see a lot more competition now and creating combinations," he said.
"There will be less emphasis on rotation. But given the six-day turnaround we are going to have to be pretty smart with the way we approach England and the first French test.
"The intention is to develop the combinations as much as possible from now on.
"Not presuming anything, but we've got a number of tests where we're able to create combinations and the execution we're after."
Henry's men kick off their campaign at Twickenham in the early hours of November 6 (NZ time), against a fresh-faced English outfit devoid of the majority of their seasoned professionals.
England coach Andy Robinson has named seven new caps in a training squad missing World Cup-winning heroes Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson and Mike Tindall.
The English Rugby Football Union's insistence on holding the end-of-year tour opener on a Sunday (Monday, NZ time) leaves the All Blacks with a tricky six-day turnaround before the Armistice Day clash with France in Lyon -- a day on which the French have lost only once.
The Six Nations champions are unbeaten at home in eight matches and have a credible victory over South Africa at Cape Town already under their belt this year.
The final two tour matches see a return to the site of 2004's 45-6 demolition of France in Paris, followed by outing against the enterprising, if slighty rusty, Welsh at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the tour finale on November 26.
Keith Robinson shapes as a potential Mr Fix-it for the All Blacks troublesome lineout after showcasing his abilities in only five matches for Waikato at the business end of this season.
The recalled 1.98m tall, 115kg lock will add weight and aggression to the pack alongside Jack, if his body can hold up.
Only six weeks ago the prospect of Robinson making a second northern hemisphere tour would have elicited some questionable glances. He is coming back from a long-term back injury.
Henry was clearly impressed with his no-nonsense approach on his return.
All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said lineout forwards would have to change "a habit of a lifetime" on this tour but would not elaborate.
Evans, likewise, returns to the frame after a broken collarbone suffered early in the Super 14.
The Otago No 10 was the central figure in his side's march to the Air New Zealand Cup semifinals, offering a competent kicking game and plenty of flair on attack.
Evans could feature in a number of different backline roles, the first of which may be as cover to fullback Leon MacDonald who is recovering from a knee impediment.
Having last donned the black jersey on the triumphant Grand Slam tour against Scotland last November, Evans is also considered a deputy for first five-eighth Daniel Carter.
At a pinch he could fill in out wide after only three wings were named in Joe Rokocoko, Rico Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Evans has declared his intention to go for the No 10 jersey first.
ITINERARY
Sunday Nov 5: v England, Twickenham, (4.30am Monday NZT)
Saturday Nov 11: v France, Lyon, (9am Sunday)
Saturday Nov 18: v France, Paris, (9am Sunday)
Saturday Nov 25: v Wales, Cardiff, (6am Sunday)
- NZPA
