All Blacks: Plenty to choose from for Europe squad

Richard Kahui needs a specialist check for his shoulder. Photo / Christine Cornege

Headaches? More like a migraine for the All Black selectors as they think about the 30 players they'll take on the end-of-year tour to Europe.

The problem is not finding enough talent but culling some of it.

A few months ago, the same selectors were getting a shade twitchy about resources as they searched for backup at lock, prop, hooker, halfback and midfield.

Injury and lack of form had bitten into the choices. In cases like halfback Piri Weepu they went on history and instinct, Benson Stanley on reliability, Israel Dagg, Aaron Cruden, Rene Ranger and Sam Whitelock on potential.

Eight tests on you'd say Messrs Henry, Hansen and Smith got it bang on. That success has brought its issues.

It is only about six weeks before the All Blacks squad for tests against the Wallabies, England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales is sorted.

The selectors want to take their strongest group as they are mindful this will be the last chance to have a potential World Cup squad together before the Tri-Nations series next July.

Injured All Blacks such as Sitiveni Sivivatu, Andrew Hore and Isaia Toeava are making good progress and may be back in full rugby mode by tour time. Richard Kahui needs another assessment from a specialist about his shoulder, Rodney So'oialo is about to play, Mike Delany is close, Stephen Donald should be ready in a few weeks while Jason Eaton may get on the park towards the end of the national championship.

There are others such as Zac Guildford, Ben Smith, Luke McAlister, Andy Ellis, Adam Thomson, Daniel Braid, Tanerau Latimer, Scott Waldrom, Isaac Ross, Jamie Mackintosh, Wyatt Crockett, Hika Elliot and Aled de Malmanche who have been All Blacks and/or injured and are in full mode once more.

Bright talent like Robbie Fruean, Julian Savea, Sean Maitland, James Marshall and Tawera Kerr-Barlow is also raising pick me slogans then there is Ski-Bunny Williams.

There is always time for someone to push through for World Cup selection with standout performances in the Super 15 or for others to fall by the wayside because of lacklustre form or damage.

A year out from the last World Cup, Weepu, Eaton and John Afoa were Tri-Nations and end-of-year tourists who did not make it in 2007.

Others picked during the 2006 season who missed the subsequent global tournament were Rico Gear, Ma'a Nonu, Clarke Dermody, James Ryan, Greg Rawlinson, Jimmy Cowan, Sam Tuitupou, Scott Hamilton and Marty Holah.

Crystal-balling the All Black selectors is usually a risky business.

But if you could tap into their collective thoughts they might agree that settling on their loose forward-lock arrangement for the end-of-year tour and mixes for the wing and midfield are their difficulties.

If Daniel Carter resumes training in time after his ankle surgery, that fixes one area. If not it is lottery time.

There will also be huge interest about the decision on a backup to captain Richie McCaw.