As New Zealand surveys a rugby-free zone this weekend the All Black selectors will be peeling back all sorts of health dossiers to gather their opening Tri-Nations squad.
If they allowed pessimism to take a serious hold on their fortunes they would shut their books and call it quits.
At
last count more than a playing XV were out for the season, dealing with long-term injuries or just coming right for the annual joust with the Wallabies and Springboks. Consider this list.
Gone: Corey Flynn, Scott Waldrom, Ali Williams, Richard Kahui.
Rehabbing: Daniel Carter, Anthony Boric, Rudi Wulf, Andrew Ellis, Adam Thomson.
Coming right: Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Stephen Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith.
From that wounded register and those who have been involved in the June series for the All Blacks and the Juniors, the panel will choose 30 players to assemble for the start of the Tri-Nations.
That group will go to a training camp next week in Wellington then move to Auckland to prepare for the July 18 Eden Park start to a Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup series against the Wallabies.
The day after, the All Black group will be culled to 26 and will fly out for twin tests in South Africa, in Bloemfontein and Durban.
On that road trip, the selectors will probably take three hookers, four props, three locks and five loosies, leaving room for 11 backs.
But for the next fortnight the selectors will sift through a larger number of players, deciding who can stand up to the physical and mental rigours of the initial tests in the Tri-Nations series. They have already shown that caution by picking 32 players since the start of the June internationals.
Some of those will be casualties- Williams, Thomson and Kahui definitely and probably Wulf will not be considered for the opening Tri-Nations segment.
Liam Messam appears to have drifted in favour from the loose forwards, Owen Franks may have slid outside the top four props while there is little between Tanerau Latimer and George Whitelock as a backup to McCaw.
The selectors will be looking for a lock/loose forward and that brings someone like Jason Eaton back into the frame while if the panel want to develop another explosive loose forward talent then Victor Vito comes into the frame.
The uncertainty about Sivivatu's health can be covered by reinstating Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake or adding Rene Ranger for the next fortnight and the NZ Juniors captain Tamati Ellison, if fit, offers utility midfield backup.
The selectors are likely to continue with Stephen Donald or Luke McAlister as their first five-eighths options with the hope that Carter may come back for the September domestic finish to the Tri-Nations.
POSSIBLE SQUAD:
Mils Muliaina
Cory Jane
Joe Rokocoko
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Lelia Masaga
Anthony Tuitavake
Conrad Smith
Isaia Toeava
Ma'a Nonu
Luke McAlister
Stephen Donald
Piri Weepu
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Rodney So'oialo
Kieran Read
Richie McCaw
George Whitelock
Jerome Kaino
Brad Thorn
Isaac Ross
Bryn Evans
Jason Eaton
Neemia Tialata
John Afoa
Tony Woodcock
Wyatt Crockett
Andrew Hore
Keven Mealamu
Aled de Malmanche
Jason Eaton's versatility will be a factor when the selectors ponder their loose forward options. Photo / Getty Images
As New Zealand surveys a rugby-free zone this weekend the All Black selectors will be peeling back all sorts of health dossiers to gather their opening Tri-Nations squad.
If they allowed pessimism to take a serious hold on their fortunes they would shut their books and call it quits.
At
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