The 1st test of the international season for the All Blacks is really starting to come down to who is actually available and fit to play with both the hosts and visitors set to be without many of their first choice players for the opening game at Eden Park this Saturday night.
While such situations don't often turn the game into a damp squib as the media often fears they might be when both sides resemble hospital wards, it is still a shame that the test series could open with neither side at their best.
Kieran Read and Sam Cane are definitely out of the reckoning for this Saturday while Julian Savea is an injury doubt - scans on his knee will determine the extent of his injury. Cane's series is effectively over after suffering a fractured knee so Matt Todd is in for the rest of the series.
There is also still a bit of contention over first five - Cruden is set to get the nod despite his lack of form after being on the sidelines, being more consistent and proven at this level than Barrett and Slade.
Should Read, Cane and Savea be unavailable, could this be the first All Blacks side for 2014?
1.Tony Woodcock
2.Dane Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.Sam Whitelock
5.Brodie Retallick
6.Liam Messam
7.Richie McCaw (captain)
8.Jerome Kaino
9.Aaron Smith
10.Aaron Cruden
11.Ben Smith
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Conrad Smith
14.Cory Jane
15.Israel Dagg
16.Keven Mealamu
17.Wyatt Crockett
18.Charlie Faumuina
19.Dominic Bird
20.Steven Luatua
21.TJ Perenara
22.Beauden Barrett
23.Malakai Fekitoa
As you can see, the ABs side are still formidable without Read, Cane and Savea and against an England side that will probably have more of their key players missing and playing in Eden Park, the ABs should win fairly comfortably. This test will really put the microscope on Steve Hansen's philosophy of building a team of 30 rather than just a starting 15 that has so far worked in the last couple of seasons.
Luatua? Victor Vito would surely get the nod ahead of him, given he was initially picked in the squad. Kaino could move to six if needed.
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