John Drake: Selectors' grand slam looms

To absolutely no one's surprise, there are 13 changes for Sunday morning's match against Scotland from the team which beat England.

I am glad to see Tana Umaga start, for if all goes to plan he should be on the pitch to celebrate the grand slam.

Chris Jack is playing again to add steel to the team and frankly because he needs to prove his class to the selectors.

What of the rest? Well, it's another chance for the fringe guys to show Graham Henry and his fellow selectors Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore that they are good enough to be selected again.

These days, with no midweek games, players are tried at test level and it is sink or swim, so for the likes of Nick Evans, Sione Lauaki, Angus Macdonald, John Afoa, Saimone Taumoepeau, Andrew Hore, Jason Eaton, Mose Tuiali'i and Jimmy Cowan - all of whom are in the 22 - this will be the last chance to impress before a new crop of hopefuls emerge during next year's inaugural Super 14.

Henry has taken on the persona of a gentle ex-headmaster - wise and caring for his players. But beware the ruthless selector-coach lurking below.

I suspect those most in danger could be Lauaki, Taumoepeau, Afoa, Macdonald, Hore, Tuiali'i and Cowan.

Lauaki has been in the squad all year, partly to keep him fit and partly to try to round out his game to fit the skill set required for this team's pattern. His form on this tour has not been good enough.

Afoa, Taumoepeau and Macdonald have played well but face stiff competition from others at home and will need to do something special against Scotland to be remembered.

Hore will always give 110 per cent but I wonder with the renewed emphasis on scrummaging whether he has the physical makeup of, say, a Corey Flynn.

Tuiali'i is rated very highly by the selectors, particularly Lochore, who knows everything that's required of a top-class No 8.

But, like Lauaki, he needs to bring out his A game every week. Henry and co are not interested in players who are inconsistent and drift off the pace.

Southland halfback Cowan is consistent, but will face pressure from others who can clear the ball faster at the breakdown.

While the selectors have maintained consistency with the core group of selections, there are many fringe players who have been tried and discarded. Such is the way these days.

So for these individuals, Sunday could be their last day in a black jersey.

The fact that Scotland are considered poor opposition may not help matters. Sure, they will eventually fall off tackles and run out of puff, giving the All Blacks what should be a comfortable victory.

The selectors will factor this into the assessment of the performance. Any slip in concentration, effort and accuracy will not be appreciated and those responsible will face the consequences with team selections next year.

The Isaia Toeava experiment will be revealed to all against Scotland.

Having seen the Auckland teenager only a couple of times, it is hard to judge just how good he is. This tour was all about the selectors finding out.

I suspect Scotland will see a lot of the back of No 15 as he runs around, through and past them. If not, then the selectors may be reluctant to risk an untried player again.

I am sure he will perform and must have learned from the tour. His test will be to take the experience back to Super 14 and be selected next time on form, not potential. That is certainly how the selectors will see it.

I expect the grand slam to be completed. Some say it's not the same as, say, in 1978 when the trip was a real tour with finite test selections and midweek games.

Maybe, but don't forget last year South Africa were reigning Tri-Nations champs but couldn't do the grand slam.

Let's appreciate the class of this All Black team and what they have achieved - remembering for some this might be the pinnacle of their careers, never to be seen in the black jersey again.

EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR

Those most at risk:

* Taranaki hooker Andrew Hore, who first made the All Blacks in 2001.

* Auckland prop John Afoa, who made his test debut against Ireland this month.

* Auckland prop Saimone Taumoepeau, who debuted for the All Blacks at the end of last year.

* Canterbury No 8 Mose Tuiali'i, who is also in his second year as an All Black

* Waikato flanker Sione Lauaki, who made the All Blacks for the first time during the Lions series in June-July.

* Auckland flanker/lock Angus Macdonald, who is on his first All Black tour.

* Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan, who made the All Blacks end-of-year tour last year.

Whatever happened to ...

* Casey Laulala: Canterbury centre who debuted against Wales late last year, and got a try against the Barbarians. Not sighted this year.

* Sam Tuitupou: Auckland second five-eighth who appeared in six tests last year, four as replacement, and he started against Argentina in Hamilton and South Africa in the bad loss at Johannesburg. Not wanted since then.

* Jerome Kaino: Auckland flanker. Got a try against the Barbarians at the end of last year at Twickenham. Plagued by injury this year.

* Steven Bates: Waikato No 8. One test against Italy last year, played the Barbarians match. Unlikely to be seen again.

* Sosene Anesi: Waikato wing/fullback. Replaced Dan Carter for 22 minutes against Fiji in Hamilton in June. Unsighted since.