KEY POINTS:
The return of Greg Somerville? Nice to have met you, John Schwalger (who?), but goodbye? Conrad Smith scraping in? Bad luck Rico Gear?
These questions and others will all be answered on Sunday among with the announcement of the 30 names of those who will contest the sixth World Cup in France in September/October.
Exactly half of the All Blacks squad who crashed and burned at the 2003 rugby World Cup look set to earn a shot at redemption.
Fifteen of the group who could go no further than the semifinals four years ago can expect to hear their names read out.
It will be the highest retention rate of any New Zealand World Cup squad, beating the 13 from the 1991 who made a return visit. The most-changed group was in 1995, with just seven backing up from four years earlier.
A likely inclusion in Sunday's squad is veteran Canterbury prop Greg Somerville, who hasn't played a test in 10 months while recovering from Achilles tendon surgery.
His introduction at the expense of rarely sighted Wellingtonian John Schwalger should be the only change to the Tri-Nations squad, even though New Zealand's form has been patchy and most of the Junior All Blacks shone during their unbeaten Pacific Nations Cup campaign last month.
The backline has an especially settled look, with coach Graham Henry's comments this week indicating that centre Conrad Smith would be on the plane to France despite having clocked up just seven minutes of test time while recovering from a hamstring injury.
Rico Gear looks like being squeezed out in the high-speed race for three wingers' jerseys while Brendon Leonard has made enough impact off the bench to ensure he will travel as a third halfback.
The main conjecture in the forward pack surrounds the lock/loose forward position.
Reuben Thorne, the 2003 Cup captain, appears a certain selection after the coaching panel named him on the reserve bench of their "best team" to face Australia here on Saturday and spoke of their growing regard for him as a test lock.
It leaves a question mark hovering over Troy Flavell, who fills essentially the same role as Thorne. Blues captain Flavell started the Super 14 season in style but waned of late and has struggled to capture his best form at test level.
He would be the likely candidate to drop out if the selectors felt the need to bolster the loose forward ranks, where the pressure would fall on the little-used Chris Masoe if injury were to strike at either openside flank or No 8.
Options would be veteran No 7 Marty Holah or his Waikato teammate, the bulldozing Sione Lauaki.
The selectors have until August 14 to finalise their squad with the International Rugby Board, leaving them time to further assess the fitness of a player like Somerville.
If he wins the nod and the rest of the selection goes as expected, Somerville will be among the 15 returning from 2003.
The others are Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Thorne, Ali Williams, Chris Jack and Keven Mealamu.
Twelve of them played in the semifinal loss to the Wallabies.
Kelleher and Thorne would attend their third World Cups, matching the record of former All Blacks forwards Sean Fitzpatrick, Richard Loe, Ian Jones and Zinzan Brooke.
Possible World Cup squad:
Backs: Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Nick Evans, Byron Kelleher, Piri Weepu, Brendon Leonard.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins, Reuben Thorne, Troy Flavell, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Keith Robinson, Carl Hayman, Greg Somerville, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Anton Oliver, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore.
- NZPA
