KEY POINTS:
It took less than 24 hours, although coach Graham Henry had thrown out the warning signals.
In that time All Black captain Richie McCaw went from a possible starter to a spectator for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney with the flanker unconvinced his ankle would stand up to the rigours of a test match.
Most did not want to hear the cautionary notes coming after McCaw completed the bulk of several training runs in Wellington early in the week and was bracketed with Daniel Braid for the Sydney test.
But McCaw went the same way yesterday as his concussed long-term Wallaby counterpart Stirling Mortlock, ruled out of this test but a healthy prospect to play in the second leg at Eden Park next week.
The belated exit of McCaw changes the dynamics again with Auckland flanker Braid restored to the national colours after an interlude of 57 tests.
His last All Black test was at Suncorp Stadium during the 2003 World Cup when he scored a try in the 91-7 flogging of Tonga.
Sydney on Saturday will be just his fourth test while first five-eighths Daniel Carter, who made his All Black debut after Braid, will be hoping to celebrate in his 50th international.
Fullback Mils Muliaina is another who made his test debut after Braid first wore the test colours on the tour to the UK in 2002, and he will play his 62nd international this weekend.
Three other All Blacks made their debut in the same test as Braid against Wales in 2002 and Keven Mealamu has played 55 tests while caretaker skipper Rodney So'oialo will play his 47th test this weekend and prop Tony Woodcock his 40th.
In the interim, Braid had been kept out of the lineup because of the imperious talents of McCaw, the occasional use of Marty Holah, Chris Masoe and So'oialo and his own injuries.
The 27-year-old was left in limbo when both he and McCaw fronted for the All Black camp this week in Wellington. However after some expectation gathered about McCaw's comeback, it was announced yesterday that he would not play in Sydney.
Braid was the New Zealand player of the year last season and his consistent play has earned the admiration of people like Wallaby looseforward Rocky Elsom.
"This sort of thing will inspire him and he is a very combative and consistent player," he said. "McCaw is pretty sharp but this guy is good too."
