View photosKEY POINTS:
Now here's a conundrum for the All Black selectors.
Has Nick Evans, in the course of his time on the park at the World Cup, done enough to force the panel to find a place for him?
He must be in the reserves at worst, but what about
the starting XV?
Evans did well against Portugal, looking sparky, and kicking 14 of 16 goals.
He demonstrated his versatility against Romania in Toulouse today by turning in a tidy 55 minutes at fullback, then stepping into first five-eighth for the final stages.
Not only did he kick 6/6 attempts at goal - and not all were doddles by any stretch - but injected pace and life into the backline and was the chief architect of the final two All Black tries by Doug Howlett and Isaia Toeava and had a hand in others as well.
There are question marks about whether Dan Carter will be fit for the quarter-final in Cardiff next Sunday morning.
If Carter is not ready after picking up a sore calf which forced him out of the Romania game at late notice Evans must be the No 10 in Cardiff.
The only option is Luke McAlister, whose had more test experience but is viewed as better value as a second five-eighth and is also prone to odd moments which make you wonder "what was that?"
Evans is slick, runs sharp, slicing lines at defences, punts prodigiously and, as he showed against both the Portuguese and Romanians, is no slouch at the goalkicking job.
McAlister would be rated the stronger defender and if Carter is out, that's the tradeoff the selectors might ponder.
And if Carter is fit, can Evans be squeezed in?
Tricky.
It probably all depends on the two fullbacks, Mils Muliaina and Leon MacDonald.
Both have been sidelined with injury. Muliaina has not played since he picked up a small tear in a hamstring in the opening minutes against Portugal a fortnight ago; MacDonald suffered a haematoma on a thigh early against Scotland last week.
Evans ran at fullback against Romania, presumably at least in part to ensure he's up to speed if needed in the No 15 in Cardiff.
He won't be on the wing, or at centre. But might he be a second five-eighth outside Carter?
It's a thought, but no. Evans has 10, 15 or bench written all over him. And he's in top form too.
As coach Graham Henry remarked today after the Romanian romp if Carter is not fit, the selectors have two players who "can do the business" and in whom they have confidence.