After a mixed performance in the 1st test against France, there has been plenty of conjecture about what side Steve Hansen should put out for the ABs' next test against Les Bleus in Christchurch.
So who should be in the ABs to face France in the 2nd test next Saturday? Should Ben Smith replace the out-of-sorts Israel Dagg at fullback? Should Rene Ranger start and where? Which hooker should start?
My tip -
1.Wyatt Crockett
2.Andrew Hore
3.Owen Franks
4.Luke Romano
5.Brodie Retallick
6.Liam Messam
7.Sam Cane
8.Kieran Read (captain)
9.Piri Weepu
10.Beauden Barrett
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Conrad Smith
14.Rene Ranger
15.Ben Smith
This game was always going to be the first real challenge for the touring Brits & Irishmen in Australia - and they passed with flying colours against a very spirited and determined Reds side bereft of their Wallabies away preparing for the tests.
One Reds was desperate to show he should have been there. Quade Cooper was fired up right from the start and was at his very best and very worst. He led his team to play a fast, exhausting type of rugby in the first half but still showed many of the flaws which Robbie Deans had indicated was the reason why Melbourne Rebels James O'Connor and not Tokoroa-born Quade Cooper is his first choice pivot.
The first half was brilliant even if it went 10 minutes over time due to the overcautious TMO. Luke Morahan's marvellous individual try will be the enduring highlight from this game.
The second half was dampened by the Brisbane rain although the Reds kept pushing for a way back into the game. Halfback Nick Frisby scored a deserved consolation try to give the Reds some hope of getting away with what would have been a famous draw for the Queenslanders.
Nevertheless, the Lions showed impressive composure when the Reds were hot and attacking their goalline and ultimately deserved the win. Their forward pack still looked strong despite losing original starter and the experienced Welsh prop, Gethin Jenkins for the tournament - he joins Cian Healy as the first two injuries of the tour.
The Lions face a bit of a breather - a combined NSW/Queensland Country XV should really be the easiest test for the Lions, meaning this could be the first indication of the side to take on the Wallabies in a fortnight.
It was ugly and highly unconvincing but at least the All Blacks can say they got the result they wanted from what was always going to be a banana skin of a test, i.e. first test of the season against a French team determined to atone for a disappointing 6 Nations campaign and at the end of a long rugby season in the other hemisphere.
To be fair, the referee did the All Blacks no favours, appearing to give the French the freedom of the breakdowns without any adjudication applied. To say that the French got away with murder time from time again as balls popped out of rucks in funny fashion may be a mere whinge but watch the game and again and I think most neutrals and some of the French might feel the same way about Wayne Barnes' refereeing too.
Instead, Barnes concentrated his pedantic energy on other areas, including a period in the 2nd half where the scrum was reset for 5 minutes, until Barnes finally penalized the attacking French pack - even then it was questionable but watchers were just glad to see the arm out as it meant the game could get on.
As for the All Blacks, the hairdryer will be out this week after a generally average showing in all areas. They showed sparkle in two plays which let to the tries - the Highlanders connection was clearly evident with Ben Smith and Ma'a Nonu creating the breaks, and Aaron Smith connecting to finish or pass to Sam Cane to score.
Other than that, the scoreline really flattered the All Blacks who were dominated at the breakdowns by the French - even without some questionable tactics at the breakdown, Les Bleus were the superior side physically. Their lineouts were flimsy and their handling was rather slipshot.
The All Blacks were expected to be rusty in their first test of the season but I hadn't seen this many mistakes and missed tackles by an All Blacks side at home for a long time and for a while, an upset defeat to the French was ominous.
But for New Zealanders and the coaching staff, that was averted. Question now is: how many changes will be made for the decisive test in New Plymouth next Saturday?
Man of the Match - Ben Smith, looked dangerous with ball in hand and made plenty of linebreaks. Secure at the back in defence too.
It took more than three quarters of a week but Team Sky's new leader has finally delivered on his favourite status and taken the lead at the Criterium du Dauphine. The Dauphine is to the Tour de France what the Golden Globes are to the Academy Awards - a good precursor of things to come, and Kenyan born Brit, Chris Froome is hoping that a win here would be a good omen just as it was to his predecessor, Sir Bradley Wiggins.
With Wiggo forced out by injury, Team Sky can now fully concentrate on Chris Froome's chances of glory in the middle of summer rather than have a battle royale between two symbolic "team leaders" - let's also not forget that super sprinter Mark Cavendish has now left to join Omega Quickstep after Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford couldn't guarantee that the team could help the Manxman with his bid to win the green jersey for winning the most stages.
Yes, while the Dauphine is not the Tour de France and is a bit more of a sprint rather than a marathon like its big brother that starts later this month, there are strong signs that Team Sky is hungrier than ever and ready to dominate professional cycling regardless of who is leading the team.
Team Sky has always been different from the more traditional cycling teams based in France and Belgium. Born out of an idea to have a British - and drug-free - team dominate pro cycling, Dave Brailsford has always sought inspiration from Formula 1 when it comes to managing the team with technical directors and coaches for every single thing possible available at disposal.
A natural progression has also been in place at Team Sky - as we all know from last year's Tour de France, Chris Froome was Bradley Wiggins' right hand man and a superb foil as the British 1-2 held off Vincenzo Nibali and fading Cadel Evans. With Wiggins gone and Froome now leader, Richie Porte looks set to assume the role as Froome's right hand man and there's the young Edvald Bossson Hagen who looks like he could step in if needed - both has shown great form in the Dauphine and could continue that from the end of this month.
While this Tour de France is supposed to favour climbers like Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador, there are question marks over the ability of their BMC, Radioshack and Saxobank teammates to be able to match the power of Froome and Sky.
If Froome and Sky can pull it off, we could quite possibly see real signs of change in pro cycling and an adoption of many of the methods undertaken by Sky. The emphasis on the team would become even greater than before.
One of the most riveting encounters in world rugby is back for the first time since that intense and agonizing night in October 2011 with the mercurial Les Bleus back in New Zealand to take on the All Blacks.
The first test of three takes place at the site of that epic Final on Saturday. While victory for the French won't erase memories of that 8-7 defeat to the All Blacks, it will be sweet revenge for captain Thierry Dusautoir, and would also be a bigger shock than their win at Carisbrook 4 years ago.
Why? France after all did finish plumb last in the 6 Nations just completed, behind Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales and looked completely out of sorts then after a fine campaign in November 2012.
Their chances might be aided by the absence of the on-sabbatical Richie McCaw and injured Dan Carter along with the likes of Cory Jane, Sam Whitelock and Tony Woodcock along with notable experienced players from that memorable night in 2011 like Ali Williams, Andrew Hore, Jerome Kaino and Brad Thorn.
Yes this is a decent All Blacks side with experience in Owen Franks, Kieran Read, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith but it has been a while since the All Blacks have played without McCaw or Carter on the field, two of the most influential players in this period of New Zealand rugby so this will be a huge test for this generation of players.
Should they win this game, it would be a huge confidence booster for New Zealand rugby and a sign that they can move on without Carter or McCaw.
On the other hand, coach Philippe Saint Andre is blooding new talent after their disastrous 6 Nations campaign although there are many familiar names in the lineup. Besides Captain Thierry, there is Dimitri Szarzewski, Florian Fritz and muttonchops Maxine Medard starting and Yannick Nyanga, Maxime Mermoz and the enigmatic Freddie Michalak on the bench. Bad boy Bastareud has missed out on this test despite impressive form this season in the Heineken Cup.
There will be a lot on the shoulders of young pivots, Camille Lopez and Aaron Cruden. While Cruden has now established himself as the 2nd best pivot behind Dan Carter, France continue to experiment at the troublesome pivot position - previous incumbent, Francois Trinh-Duc also misses out like Bastareud.
Wesley Fofana is one player to watch too - he has been electric in club rugby this season and his match-up with fellow excitement machine Ma'a Nonu is one to watch.
In the Super Bru competition, I've gone for France by 7 but after looking at both sides (below), my prediction might be a tad bold - nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if Les Bleus were the ones who broke the duck at Eden Park.
One must also remember that the All Blacks lost their last game albeit that was some time ago in November 2011 and there is something about those losing streaks.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Ben Afeaki, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Rene Ranger
France: Yoann Huget, Adrien Plante, Florian Fritz, Wesley Fofana, Maxime Medard, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Yoann Maestri, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Luc Ducalcon, Dimitri Szarzewski, Thomas Domingo.
Reserves: Guilhem Guirado, Vincent Debaty, Daniel Kotze, Alexandre Flanquart, Yannick Nyanga, Jean Marc Doussain, Frederic Michalak, Maxime Mermoz.
