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SYDNEY - The All Blacks' depth, often the envy of world rugby, could get its sternest test this week with halfback and hooker providing injury headaches for Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup test.
A battered and beaten All Blacks returned to Auckland last night with several walking wounded, and a headache in the form of a slick Wallabies outfit building a winning streak under new coach Robbie Deans.
Both halfbacks from Saturday's 34-19 defeat in Sydney are under injury clouds, with Andy Ellis (ribs) and Jimmy Cowan (knee and broken nose) identified as doubtful starters by assistant coach Steve Hansen.
If one of them is ruled out, it brings the out-of-favour Piri Weepu back into contention from New Zealand Maori duty, with Brendon Leonard (knee) still sidelined.
Said Hansen: "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out who the leading (contender) is".
Hooker Andrew Hore (bruised hip) is another injury concern but it isn't considered serious.
Still, there are few replacement contenders with Corey Flynn injured and Tom Willis overseas.
The head-scratching in what was formerly depth-laden positions showed how much the European talent drain is biting.
Captain Richie McCaw (ankle) was still rated a 50-50 proposition after suffering a knock to the injury which set his recovery back, Hansen said.
McCaw's return is almost essential to an All Blacks team who struggled to quell their opposites at the breakdown, with Daniel Braid feeling the effects of a lack of recent matchplay.
All Blacks pivot Daniel Carter, who slammed his team's 16 handling errors at a dry ANZ Stadium as "unacceptable", was eagerly awaiting McCaw's return.
"Hopefully, he was pretty close this week. Another week under the belt, who knows," Carter said.
"They (Wallabies) played really well at the breakdown, no disrespect to Braidy, he challenged well in there and got a couple of good turnovers himself.
"Richie is a great player and he has a real presence around that area, that's his specialty. If he comes back it'll be great.
Carter was happy with the All Blacks' ball-in-hand, high octane gameplan on Saturday which created chances that were butchered by handling errors and heavy Wallabies defence.
When a Carter line break set up Ellis to score they led 19-17 early in the second half. They scored three tries in all, to the Wallabies' four, but dropped off in the final quarter.
"Fatigue can kick in, but you've got to be fit enough and capable enough to have those basic skills," Carter said.
"The game was played at great pace, a good open free-flowing game so we've got to improve in that area.
"I think we can improve a lot and we're going to have to if we're going to keep this Tri-Nations and Bledisloe alive."
Defeat at Eden Park on Saturday will finish their slim hopes of a fourth consecutive Tri-Nations title, leave them on the brink of losing their five-year Bledisloe Cup grip and bring up a three-match losing streak for the first time since 1998.
Attack coach Wayne Smith said there may be some tweaking this week.
"We pride ourselves on being able to get there in support and to not do that probably cost us," Smith said.
"The other thing that cost us was we played too much behind the gain line. Their defence was very strong, very well structured. We just played too often on our side of the gain line."
Coach Graham Henry said there would be minimal changes, injuries permitting, as he gives the bulk of the side the chance to redeem themselves.
- NZPA
