KEY POINTS:
So it's as good as done and dusted for the World Cup, is it? Not thoughts about the All Blacks inexorable march to the title - but the players who will fill the squad and make the return trek to France next year.
It is going to be
mighty hard to dislodge any of those who made the cut for this trip to England, France and Wales. Injury and form will have some say, but debate may only be about the remaining two or three places.
The mix 'n' match selections stacked 40 points past England and France and made huge demands on the selectors in their choices for tomorrow's side against France.
World Cup rules permit only 30 players in each squad so, on that simple mathematical limit, the All Blacks are carrying two excess players. Five locks and five props are a luxury which will not transfer to a World Cup squad - one of each would be surplus.
The propping choices here were complicated by the Achilles tendon injury to Greg Somerville and Neemia Tialata's calf strain. If both are fit next year, they would join Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman in France.
That would eliminate John Afoa and Clarke Dermody, who are on duty here, while James Ryan and Jason Eaton are in a massive battle with Chris Jack, Ali Williams and Keith Robinson for the locking roles.
For the last two tournaments, coaches John Hart and John Mitchell used a selection split of 16 forwards and 14 backs. That convention is likely to be repeated by Graham Henry when his squad is announced next July.
The backs would include three halfbacks, two first five-eighths, four players to cover midfield, three wings and two fullbacks.
Three hookers and four props would complete the front row needs, three locks and a utility flanker/second-rower would complement the five loose forwards.
Somerville and Doug Howlett are regular All Blacks who missed this tour because of injury and will be well in the frame next year, while Nick Evans' dodgy hamstring kept him out of any action until tomorrow.
Another injured loose forward, Angus MacDonald, and promising Waikato loosie Liam Messam were also mentioned by the selectors as players to watch.
There will also be close study during the Super 14 of the work of halfbacks Jimmy Cowan and Brendon Leonard, the utility skills of Tamati Ellison and of hooker Corey Flynn.
Flynn, though, is competing against three hookers who are exempt from the initial part of the Super 14 - no guarantee they will go to the RWC but a strong indication as they will be getting all the specialist training.
The World Cup fortunes of three players - Troy Flavell, Sione Lauaki and Isaia Toeava - will be the most fascinating.
Flavell is someone who can cover lock and blindside, the role Eaton is auditioning for on this tour. Former skipper Reuben Thorne brings that double cover as well with the balance that he is more a flanker who is able to fill in at lock.
Flavell was on Henry's shopping list early and, although he had injury problems, he was picked for tests this year before he needed serious shoulder surgery. His contribution for the Blues next season, probably as captain and from both blindside and lock, will interest Henry and Co enormously.
So, too, the impact of Toeava at the Blues. Where he plays - and when - is yet to be sorted, but the rapturous acclaim given to him by the All Black selectors about his utility "superstar" qualties suggests a World Cup role.
At whose expense? Take your pick from one of the midfielders or even a wing.
Lauaki was in such bristling form in the Super 14 that his All Black inclusion appeared certain. But his shoulder injury, similar to Flavell, dented that progress and he never quite got back into shape in the national championship.
At his best, Lauaki is dynamic. It is a case of him getting back to that form and forcing the panel to pick him.
