All Blacks: Bledisloe dilemma at No 10

Stephen Donald (L) and Luke McAlister offer two choices but many variables. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks have a dilemma as they balance the merits of Stephen Donald or Luke McAlister.

Three weeks out from the opening Bledisloe Cup, the selectors have to sift the talents of the five-eighths best suited to run their backline at Eden Park as the injury absence of Daniel Carter continues to bite.

Donald - McAlister, McAlister - Donald; it may be unpalatable but there are only two choices for the No 10 jersey and a multitude of variables involved in the decision.

Selecting the five-eighths will be just one of the topics underlined on Graham Henry's clipboard as he surveys much of the substandard rugby from the All Blacks this month.

In the credit department, the All Blacks should embrace captain Richie McCaw, No 8 Rodney So'oialo and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu from the start of the series, though whether they all play will be another question.

Andrew Hore, Rudi Wulf, Conrad Smith and Neemia Tialata are expected back from injury for the July 18 showdown against Robbie Deans' Wallabies.

The clout in the tight five should be ramped up with the return of Tony Woodcock and the gnarly combat of Hore to clear the way for fresh energy from the bench through Keven Mealamu and John Afoa.

Reclaiming McCaw will bring the leadership back into the core of the team after Mils Muliaina's interim efforts from a distance at fullback.

McCaw will make a huge difference in a gigantic tussle against George Smith who will reach 100 tests at Eden Park and become the fourth player behind George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and David Campese to reach that milestone for the Wallabies.

The greatest All Black angst will be about selections for the No 9 and 10 jerseys at Eden Park.

Pairing the Waikato duo of Leonard and Donald has the advantage of using the empathy they have developed in the past few years in the Super 14 series. Jimmy Cowan, McAlister and variations of that partnership are the alternatives, with Piri Weepu set to occupy the bench.

Leonard was given an extra week to recover from his hamstring strain and had an adequate return to test rugby on Saturday after a year away from the test scene with injury.

Donald's hamstring strain meant it was Hobson's Choice, with McAlister promoted to be the starting five-eighths. He found that upgrade challenging for much of the match.

So now the selectors have to judge the solid, tough work from Donald, who plays regularly at first five-eighths, and the capricious control of McAlister, who may be a better goalkicker, to match up against Wallaby linchpin Matt Giteau.

"We executed poorly, we were too sideways rather than direct, pretty disappointing really," backline coach Wayne Smith admitted.

This test should be one where Henry takes greater control and demands the attention he was barking at halftime in the lost cause at Christchurch. Henry's portfolio includes defence and the overall authority for this side's performance.

He, in concert with the repaired McCaw, have to steer the side through this Bledisloe Cup episode.

At the moment the team is travelling no better than a tricar with a slow leak. Henry has to deliver his experience, knowledge and authority and demand responses. He needs to stare some players down.

He must make some tough selection decisions, he has to trust the youth like Cory Jane and Isaac Ross who have delivered, he needs to be more demanding, he has to reignite Ma'a Nonu and revive this side's firepower.

Too many forwards have been cruising without the volume of work and muscle Brad Thorn has delivered, and the backs have been messy, leaving Muliaina with too much to do.