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The Australian selectors Des Morris, Allan Smith, Bob Fulton and Bob McCarthy have given the Kiwis a chance to win the ANZAC Test, by not naming the strongest possible Kangaroo line-up.
We can only guess that they have not been watching all the games.
Either that, or they think some of the players will throw off their indifferent form and bounce back at Eden Park on Friday night.
If we are to base the selections on past and current rep and club form, there is no justification for Knights full-back Darius Boyd being selected on the left wing.
The white-hot Brett Morris is rated the best in the world in that position.
Both players carry the number one jersey for their clubs but Morris’ form is vastly superior to Boyd’s crab runs.
I guess he will have the sideline to help him run straight this time.
With no Glenn Stewart or Tony Williams available, the surprise selection of big Dave Taylor can be justified. Yet his defence is a concern.
The selectors clearly think that at 35 Petero Civoniceva is over the hill.
But have they taken no notice of his form for the Broncos and the fact that he was the best prop in Origin three last year, which included Matt Scott and Paul Gallen?
The preferred prop rotation with Gallen is David Shillington, who has only had two good 40-minute halves all season.
Then there’s the plodding Ben Hannant, who does not scare anyone, and the Kiwi ring-in James Tamou, who comes with a lot of mistakes attached to his resumé and is at best only handy.
The last three ANZAC Test results have been: 20-10 Australia (2011), 12-8 Australia (2010 ) and 38-10 Australia (2009).
With 11 ANZAC Tests played in Australia, and just one in New Zealand since the first game in 1997, the home team has won every match.
This is the first ANZAC Test in New Zealand since 1998 when the Kiwis won 22-16 at North Harbour Stadium.
Perhaps the most puzzling selection is the decision to choose three specialists half-backs in the top 17.
With Thurston at six and Cronk at seven why has Cherry-Evans taken up a valuable interchange spot that could have seated the brilliant Matt Gillett?
Earth to selectors: are you watching?
The Kangaroo bench lacks punch, something that is desperately needed for a blockbuster.
They could have used someone like Gillett, who has the ability to come on and make something happen.
The bench should have impact players.
Corey Parker, Tariq Sims, Feliti Mateo or Jayson Bukuya would have been more valuable and would have offered more balance.
There is even an argument for the dynamic Ben Barba, who can play multiple positions and would be a handful fresh.
The good news is that all of the above should matter diddly-squat because the Kiwis have been trying forever and still cannot find an on-field general.
That is, they still lack somebody who can see two moves ahead, can marshal his troops, and ensure the ball heads in the direction of someone who can make something happen.
They also lack a class tactical kicker.
No one can deny the immense talent of the Kiwi spine; Hoffman, Marshall, Johnson and Luke are men who play with instinct.
But while capable of busting any game apart, they are not team players.
Rarely is a Test match won by the second-best team.
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