KEY POINTS:
Like someone trying to complete a Sudoku puzzle, Gary Kemble will continue searching until he finds the solution in the troublesome halves.
This morning, the Kiwis coach tried Lance Hohaia and Thomas Leuluai in the pivotal positions. Two weeks ago, Jeremy Smith and Ben Roberts had their chance to impress. They didn't.
"We have to get someone in there who is tactically good, has a lot of vision and can direct the players around the footy paddock," Kemble said. "All of the great teams that win tests, championships and big games always have a half that has the tactical sense to do that as well as having an X-factor.
"Whether it's Thomas and Lance, Thomas or just Lance, we are finding it out. If that doesn't work, we will try someone else again. That combination is very important for us leading up to the World Cup."
Kemble still has a joker in the pack in Benji Marshall but his involvement in next year's tournament hinges on whether his fragile shoulders will allow him to take part. Marshall has played only two tests since making his debut in the 2005 Anzac test.
New Zealand have traditionally struggled to find high-quality halves and, in many respects, the presence of Stacey Jones merely plastered over a vast crack.
In a country where power rules over subtlety and artistry, especially at junior level, few halves have come through the ranks.
That could be changing. A handful of promising youngsters are starting to graduate to the higher grades and they could hold the key to future New Zealand success. Names like Eddie Paea (Souths), Rangi Chase (Dragons), Liam Foran (Storm), Isaac John (Warriors) and Kevin Locke (Auckland Lions) could become widely recognised.
Paea and Chase have already played first grade, while the other three have been in reserve grade.
It's a different environment to park football. Players don't have their bodies battered and spirits squashed.
"We have always had that problem," Kemble said. "You go to age-group tournaments and see the little blokes getting belted around.
"Now we're finding a lot of little blokes are going to Australia and playing age-group footy over there. They're not getting belted around as much, they are learning about the game and they are starting to come through."
Paea, in particular, looks a tasty proposition and captained the Junior Kiwis to an impressive win over their Australian counterparts in the curtainraiser to the test a fortnight ago.
Next year's World Cup is likely to be too early for him and the other youngsters but Kemble didn't rule it out.
For now, though, Kiwi hopes rest on the present players, Marshall and even Greg Eastwood, who played a handful of games at five-eighth for the Broncos in 2007.
Although the jury is still out on the four on tour with the Kiwis, it needs to be remembered Roberts and Leuluai are still only 22, while Hohaia is 24 and Smith 26.
