All Blacks side: Dan Carter out, Cruden in

Nasi Manu is very much a devastating number 8. Thomas Waldrom was also but those don't seem to be the type of number 8's the All Blacks are looking for.

Cane is a different player then Todd. If the All Blacks wanted a scavenger Todd would be there. Cane is a more physical tackler and runner then Todd. Todd is better at the breakdown in terms of stealing ball, Cane is better at moving bodies. The All Blacks have not compared them as who is better then who, they have selected the guy who suits the style they are looking for.

What about Nasi Manu, Swapacrate? He's a big unit and has produced plenty of go forward for the Highlanders this year. Hands are possibly a bit dodgy but wouldn't he be the next best specialist 8 behind Read and Vito?

We have no devastating 8's in NZ so I see no option other then to have Richie at 8. Messams been playing well at 6 and has tightened his game up, better then thomo IMHO. So he needs to stay at 6. Cane plays at chiefs with Messam so thats a nice combo. There are 4 Crusaders in the pack so this will help with the cohesion. Woodcock and Hore are stalwarts so they will be sweet. So the pack has a nice balance, considering the injuries. I see Fritz Lee as devastating 8 but hes had no game time at the Chiefs, and hes lazy on D. (Im a counties supporter) The 6 for the future is Shields, hes big, aggressive, young and a worker. He will be the goods. Read is young and will be their for awhile, time for Fritz to work on his game :). So in two years time we could have cane, shields and read. Might even get that on tour for a game this year. With Richie on the bench covering, what an awesome cover. (Unless Richie is playing well enough, if he is well then that's great). I think he can make it to the next world cup with careful management.

Mccaw, Vito, Reid. Cane, Thomson, Messam. That seems to be the first and second choice backrows. Is Cane really better than Todd? The problem with Thomson is that he's 30 already, Messam 28.

I see the logic in Messam playing: he's capped, will be playing alongside Cruden and SBW who will no doubt be handling the ball a lot (simple as that sounds), and should be champing at the bit given he possibly has unfinished business at the highest level. You know what you'll get with him, and after last week it's imperative that the All Blacks record a win. Hansen is also just starting out, so has time to try out players, I just would have liked to have seen something different. Personally I would have looked at playing McCaw at 6 and testing out another 8, as I think NZ has greater depth at 6 than 8 and IMO McCaw is not an 8, but might be useful at 6 to ease the transition of a new 7. If Read goes down then Messam/McCaw at 8 is not the answer going forward. NZ should have the firepower to see off Ireland, so I don't think playing two rookies at 7 and 8 would be hugely problematic, especially given that Paddy Wallace is playing 12. With Romano on debut and the back row being short the lineout could be a real issue, and physically none of the three are going to dent the Irish defence. There's not a great deal of pace there either. I'm a fan of Cane. I don't think he's a new Pocock, but he has a great work ethic and pops up in good positions IMO. I think he's more of a 6. but without the size. I certainly think it's worth him getting a bit of experience with the national side.

Pothale would be more your man for this, Jutsie. Heaslip will be a huge loss as he's a fantastic player, but Kevin McLaughlin played very well IMO last week, and Peter O'Mahony (who isn't really an 8) has been involved in all 3 Tests, so the disruption shouldn't be that big. With Ireland gaining leverage at the scrum O'Mahony shouldn't be under too much pressure either. That said, it's certainly not Ireland's biggest or most physical back row, which should be a fillip for what is a small All Blacks back row. I think Ireland will have the edge in the air, as McLaughlin is a pretty reliable come restart time, and he provides a good back of the lineout option. Conversely, I think the NZ back row will have a field day with Paddy Wallace at 12.

It reminds me of the side we fielded in Port Elizabeth last season. If we can't convert our scoring opportunities in the first half we might be in some strife. With Vito and Read injured, I don't think they had much choice other than to bring Messam in. The alternative was to bring Shields back into the squad and I don't think they would have been comfortable starting two rookies. From what we've seen so far I don't think Thomson can be the All Black blindside until he changes his game at Super Rugby level. It's a real shame that we couldn't see more of Vito in this series. I'm not really sure what they see in Sam Cane to be honest. He was involved a few times in the movement that set up our try, but the jury is out on how effective he is at the breakdown. It seems like NZ is going to go through the same stage where it took time to replace Collins and then So'oialo, only eventually McCaw isn't going to be there to provide the clue.

Richie will be fine at eight. watch him peel off the back of the scrum to link with Cruden then out to SBW on the crash ball. I hope the game plan is to have Ben Smith and Hosea Gear running in for line breaks. Dagg needs a good game.

Uncle, yep, he is making big dollars in Japan

Carter's hamstring injury is only mild, but enough to keep him out of this test. Read's concussion worries are only precautionary measures. They will both be back for the the all-important Chiefs' game.

Yep there is definitely a Chiefs feel to this team... and so it should be, given that the Chiefs are the form team in the Super 15. I'm picking Cane to have a strong game and confirm he is the heir-apparant to the No 7 jersey. He is a fetcher and has a ball-carrying game that Pocock is still missing. Luke Romano is a monster... being groomed as a potential Brad Thorn-type player.

I dont know much about the irish backrowers other than the big 3 of heaslip, SOB and ferris, do you think that heaslip/ferris being out will make the back row battle a bit more even?

Jeepers... Not too sure what to make of this side... I think Cruden will bring out SBW's better qualities, although that depends on how well the NZ pack holds up. I really can't see any point in bringing in Messam and shifting McCaw to 8. Think the Irish backrow will be licking their lips at that selection. IMO Messam and Thomson are dead wood at Test level. Looking forward to seeing Sam Cane, however. I think this is a good time for NZ to build depth at 6 and 8, but I guess Hansen is going one Test at a time. Not sure why Romano is getting a game? Maybe Retallick is fatigued? Read's omission could really be a hindrance at the lineout, and also at the re-start as OJ has noted elsewhere. All things considered this side looks like it could be wobbled. I'm a fan of Ben Smith, but I think he should be played at 15 with Dagg on the wing. I can see Hosea Gear causing Ireland problems though.

Yes, hence my statement it is better to have one player out of position (McCaw at 8) than two (McCaw at 6 and Messam at 8).

there's a real Chiefs feel to this team. Irish will step up and so will the ABs. Pick of the weekend, I reckon!!

this going to be a game breaker for Hansen if pulls this off a victory this will take him along way to taking the a/b to the world cup . Warren Gatland would be in the running if he is successful with the lions so its going too be game on .Hansen knows game time is important at intertnational level for 6 new players but hey they are world champions and this what great coaches do go outsde the wire JJake White done it with the brumbies Hammet done it with the canes and the crusaders will they always bring someone through their ranks even Robbie Deans has with the wallabies

When that scrum was going backwards McCaw Cane and Thomo all had heads up and none of them pushed . I have no doubt Cron would have rectified that in the first scrum session this week. Don't be surprised if the All Blacks scrum is dominant.

Messam has been playing on the blind for the Chiefs and that is his best position. McCaw played at 8 when Read went off and will have had longer to work the combinations and moves with Smith during the past few weeks. Messam only just got into camp.

Bet you he is getting paid a squllion though