KEY POINTS:
Most All Black understudies will be shunted aside this week as the reconditioned group enter the Super 14.
But the form of some deputies and the difficulties the Crusaders and Blues will have absorbing their protected test players will tax the selection strategies of those franchises. To start
or to reserve? - that will be the question.
After the Crusaders fended off the Bulls 32-10, it would seem ruthless and probably counter-productive for coach Robbie Deans to axe six of his side so all his returning test players can start against the Stormers.
Blues coach David Nucifora may be equally reluctant to bench his men to make way for a returning All Black quartet, especially after the start the side have made to the competition.
However, it may be a different story for the Hurricanes - on the road in South Africa and struggling after their third straight defeat. They need all the help they can muster in the shape of six All Blacks. Ditto for the Chiefs after breaking their campaign drought. However, as good as Byron Kelleher and Sitiveni Sivivatu are, the Chiefs have not been vulnerable at halfback or on the wing.
The uncertainty for each franchise will be how long the All Blacks survive, as reports after recent trial games suggest most would struggle in the last quarter of matches.
These selection puzzles are confined to New Zealand. Elsewhere, South Africans are buoyed by the Sharks' unbroken winning sequence to lead the competition, with the Bulls still hanging on to fourth place, ahead of a congested midtable.
After their historic first home win last week, the Force added another Subiaco Oval victory, belting the Reds to sit in third place. In the process the Force claimed the only bonus point an Australian side have managed this season for scoring four tries, although they did have the advantage of playing against 14 men for 65 minutes after Reds midfielder Peter Hynes was sinbinned and then sent off.
Halfway through the Super 14, the return of the protected All Blacks will bring greater scrutiny and debate about their contributions and that of those they will replace.
Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger and Daniel Carter will likely start for the Crusaders, although Steven Brett has been an impressive first five-eighths in their absence. It is just that Carter plays on another level.
But in the pack, converted flanker Michael Paterson has been an enormous contributor at lock, and Kieran Read has delivered a workaholic message at blindside flanker. Juggling their efforts against the availability of Chris Jack and Reuben Thorne is a conundrum for Deans.
Same with the Blues, where locks Troy Flavell and Greg Rawlinson have driven a developing tight five while Ali Williams has been on national training duty. And out wide, Doug Howlett, Anthony Tuitavake (before he was hurt) and Rudi Wulf have been sharp in offering alternatives to Joe Rokocoko.
Now that we can begin gauging the 20 All Blacks (Greg Somerville and Mils Muliaina are casualties) available to the franchises, the form of those exempt national team members can be measured against their locums. Who would make an alternate eligible 22 (discount Isa Nacewa) halfway through the Super 14?
Howlett, Luke McAlister, Flavell, James Ryan and Neemia Tialata are All Blacks showing out, Nick Evans is coming to it, while there has been mixed results from others like Conrad Smith, Keith Robinson, Sione Lauaki, Ma'a Nonu or Andrew Ellis because of injury or other issues.
New faces like Hurricanes wing David Smith, halfback Alby Mathewson and the Crusaders duo of Paterson and Read have been vital operators, the still-young Isaia Toeava and Liam Messam have hinted at their talents, and former All Blacks like Corey Flynn, Tom Willis, Mose Tuiali'i and Craig Newby have hung tough.
How many players from this side, picked from those who started the Super 14, will push into the Tri-Nations or World Cup squads? Scott Hamilton, Doug Howlett, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, David Smith, Nick Evans, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino, Marty Holah, James Ryan, Troy Flavell, Kieran Read, Neemia Tialata, Tom Willis, Clarke Dermody. Reserves: Corey Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Brendon Leonard, Josh Blackie, Greg Rawlinson, John Afoa, Corey Flynn.
Super 14 sidelines
As Crusaders coach Robbie Deans gets ready to welcome back six retuned All Blacks, spare a thought for one of those who might be plonked on the bench this week. Michael Paterson, a No 6 converted to lock, was outstanding against the Bulls on Saturday. The talent runs deep in the competition's most successful franchise.
Bone crunching
From metatarsal to metacarpal. Last week it was Chiefs' Mils Muliaina with a broken bone in his foot, now it's Wallaby back Stirling Mortlock effectively gone from the Brumbies campaign after breaking two bones in his right hand.
Glut of tries
Plenty of tries over the weekend, with five of the six winners bagging bonus points for four-or-more try victories. The exception being the Stormers, whose win over the dreadful Waratahs contained just two tries, one a penalty try. Which brings us to ...
Waratahs woes
What's up at the Waratahs? They're lurching along propping up the ladder with the hopeless Reds. Actually, propping is something Aussie teams usually aren't much chop at. Pencil in April 14 for a big night - Waratahs v Reds.