All Blacks: Form XV an easy pick for Cardiff

Richie McCaw drives forward in the All Black's 38-18 test win against Ireland yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

If selection for the test against Wales is a reward for those who have shown the best form on the trip so far, it should be a fairly clearcut starting XV.

Mils Muliaina is peerless at the back and the next best fullback in the squad, Cory Jane, should hold off Isaia Toeava's challenge to take the right-wing spot.

On the other wing, it is impossible to make a case for anyone but Hosea Gear.

The 26-year-old has excelled on this tour, proving to the selectors he has developed the work-rate and positional sense to complement his lethal ball carrying.

The selectors have shown great loyalty to Joe Rokocoko in the past but Gear now offers them a compelling alternative.

"The biggest thing I've seen him work on is his positional play," said Muliaina, evaluating Gear's contribution. "He really helps you out at the back and that's one of the things a lot of people don't see.

"He's worked really hard to get in the right positions at the right times, certainly on defence. He's stepping it up.

"There's no question about what he can do with ball in hand and some of his carries [against Ireland] were outstanding."

The midfield could be more contentious, but Conrad Smith should start at centre. He was excellent against Scotland, though less effective at Lansdowne Rd. That might be because Ma'a Nonu also struggled, missing tackles and tending to crib sideways when he ran.

All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith usually needs no second invitation to talk up the performance of his players even if the evidence tends to contradict him, but even he was guarded in his assessment of Nonu's game.

"He played his role pretty well, I thought. We played pretty well with ball in hand but struggled to make any clean breaks because they defended with big hearts," Smith said. On form, Nonu will lose his place to Sonny Bill Williams.

The three-test novice was quiet when coming on against Ireland but created tries against England and Scotland and has the potential to create havoc against Wales.

Carter is obvious choice at No 10 and Jimmy Cowan has looked at least half a step sharper than his two challengers on tour: Alby Mathewson and Andy Ellis.

The loose forwards also pick themselves, though Liam Messam did his future selection chances no harm with a strong game against Scotland. Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read, perhaps the biggest improver in world rugby this year, offer the perfect blend of brains, experience, skill and raw power.

Locks come down to last men standing, with Tom Donnelly's tour over after damaging the medial ligament in his knee against Ireland.

The selectors are confident Brad Thorn will be fit after recovering from a minor hamstring strain, so Anthony Boric, impressive in the weekend, would go back to the bench. Even if Donnelly was fit, he has been eclipsed on this tour by Sam Whitelock, whose arrival on to field in the weekend coincided with the All Blacks upswing in fortunes.

The front row should be a simple exercise, with Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock propping up the scrum and Keven Mealamu coming back into the starting XV after his two-week suspension.

The biggest intrigue could come on the bench.

If Nonu misses out on a place in the starting XV, do you put him in the reserves, or the more versatile Toeava?

Presuming Cowan gets the starting halfback job, is Mathewson a better fit for the bench than Ellis?

There will be some anxious minds before the coaches inform the players of their fates on Tuesday before officially naming their final team of 2010 two days later.