New Zealand face some difficult selection issues ahead of the World Cup, with two key areas yet to be resolved, less than a week before the All Blacks name their final 30-man squad.
Next Tuesday, the All Blacks will reveal the players they hope can lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since 1987, and Saturday's Tri Nations Test against South Africa represents the last chance for several fringe players to impress.
"Everyone in our squad is in contention, but we can only pick 30 and some areas are difficult in terms of selection, particularly the back three and the loose forwards," Steve Hansen, the assistant coach, told reporters yesterday.
New Zealand have started the season well with wins over Fiji, South Africa and Australia, but now face a dilemma over which six players will fill the winger and full-back positions for the hosts at the September 9 to October 23 tournament.
"All our back three have come into excellent form at the same time but you can't fit nine into six, so three guys are going to have to miss out, which is tremendously sad," Hansen said at a news conference in Port Elizabeth.
"There are some dead-set certainties and we all know who they are, but for the others, we have to get the mix right, players that will suit the tournament.
"The loose forwards fall into that area and the back three, but it's not a bad problem to have."
New Zealand have left seven frontline players behind for the South Africa leg of the Tri Nations, but Hansen said the current squad had easily adapted to the absence of senior figures such as Richie McCaw, the regular captain, and Dan Carter, the fly-half.
"There are a lot of senior guys that are here and it's been an easy transformation thanks to the leadership of guys like Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore," Hansen said.
South Africa started the Tri Nations with a 39-20 loss in Australia and a 40-7 thrashing in New Zealand, and despite fielding a stronger side in a 14-9 defeat to the Wallabies last week, Hansen believes the Springboks are improving.
"I don't think you can take into account the first two Tests because that wasn't this team playing," he said. "They decided to rest these guys, rightfully after such a bruising Super Rugby competition, and although they looked short of a gallop last week, they're progressing well.
"They have run their own course and good on them. The World Cup is the most important thing this year and they decided early on that the Tri Nations was not for them.
"They're now seeing if certain guys can fit in around their more senior players. South Africa are one of the best teams in the world and they will contend in the final stages of the World Cup. If they have a bit of luck and play well, then they could go all the way."
