Join us at 2pm for the live announcement of the All Blacks World Cup squad
Extra Tri-Nations choices Victor Vito and Sitiveni Sivivatu were getting the World Cup tick yesterday as scuttlebutt and the All Blacks filtered into Brisbane.
If Vito gets the nod when the group is revealed later today he is the major beneficiary after being pulled into the squad for the Port
Elizabeth test.
He played just 11 minutes from the bench but after overnight debate about the loose forward mix, the selectors apparently decided to include him instead of Liam Messam.
They have also been advised that Anthony Boric will be fit for the tournament and have picked him at lock ahead of Jarrad Hoeata.
The other discard from the weekend's test is expected to be Hosea Gear.
Play again did not run his way much, compared with the work Isaia Toeava had on the other flank, but perhaps the selectors wanted to see him more involved.
Whatever their rationale, their decision to pick Sivivatu must have been very tight.
He was injured for much of the Super 15 and lackadaisical when he returned. Several times the All Black selectors gave him stern messages about his training and social habits.
Sivivatu's work on both wings against Fiji and the Wallabies was sharp and like Cory Jane, in huge contrast to his Super 15 output.
Sivivatu has a pedigree of 45 internationals while Vito lost his rookie test career place to Daniel Braid on last year's tour to Europe.
Those who have played for the All Blacks this year but missed the cut are Gear, Zac Guildford, Ben Smith, Messam, Hoeata and Wyatt Crockett. Vito and the Hurricanes struggled for much of the season but his size, leadership and potential have nudged out Messam.
Gear, Guildford and Smith suffered in the squeeze of wing talent, Hoeata deputised for Boric and Crockett fell out when Tony Woodcock convinced the panel he had overcome his injury.
The All Blacks flew into Brisbane from a variety of destinations last night after a day of APBs around the globe.
The All Blacks and media played out a version of a new board game: "Spot the World Cuppers".
First inquiries for the travelling media were on board the plane bringing the squad back from South Africa. Then, they had another chance to decipher the signs as the passenger cargo arrived in Sydney.
The discards went east to New Zealand, the bulk of the group headed north to Brisbane and the cavalry left for the same destination from various parts of New Zealand. Away from those multi-choice options were other unknowns.
Had the All Black selectors received enough advice to be confident Boric was fit enough to include in the tournament squad and who might have been injured at Port Elizabeth which had not been apparent on Sunday?
What was the verdict on Sivivatu's fractured eye-socket and his other fitness issues?
The All Black selectors spent the night deliberating before making their decisions and then attending to the awkward conversations with those who missed the cut.
Most attention was on two positions, wing and loose forwards.
While some like Colin Slade, John Afoa and Sonny Bill Williams had their struggles against the Springboks, their places were never in jeopardy.
When Israel Dagg played strongly he cemented his fullback role with Mils Muliaina. Toeava and Gear played well though Gear did not show out as much.
With Jane's versatility, his "previous" and his test against the Springboks compelling evidence of his class, the last wing berth became a choice between Gear and Sivivatu.
The public verdicts are unveiled today in Brisbane before Saturday's Tri-Nations decider with the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium.
LIKELY LINE-UP
Probable World Cup squad:
Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Daniel Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn.
