My non-essentials includes the icons - Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Dan Carter and Conrad Smith. With all due respect to their long careers and stellar achievements, taken together - and individually in some cases - they are too far past their prime. Even pack bedrocks such as Owen Franks and Sam Whitelock - who would be missed in some respects - can be replaced by more powerful athletes.
The All Black selectors have uncovered terrific new talent, but can't quite make the final push with them. In other words, who would scare you more as an opposition coach, player or fan - Conrad Smith or Malakai Fekitoa? And judging by Saturday night's Super Rugby game, the thought of Cory Jane getting picked beggars belief considering the rip roaring alternatives. He was way off the pace.
Here are my essential World Cup items, around whom the options are plenty.
1 Dane Coles. A shock choice at No1 perhaps, but daylight is second at hooker, or was until outcast Hika Elliot fired up.
2 Aaron Smith. Makes the whole machine tick - he's miles ahead of any other halfback in world rugby and gives the All Blacks speed, decisiveness and x-factor plus.
3 Kieran Read. At peak form, his offloads are matchwinners and he has built a McCaw-like aura.
4 Brodie Retallick. No lock works harder. Huge presence. Engine room essential.
5 Ben Smith. Amazing commitment, energy and alertness on attack and defence.
6 Julian Savea. Frightening power. The world's best wing.
7 Beauden Barrett. Fast feet and eye for gaps others can't see. Can shift to fullback late in games to destroy tiring, re-jigged defences on counter attack.
8 Ma'a Nonu. Still gives impressive momentum and now reads the game so well.
Yes, it's easy (and great fun) being an armchair selector, on whom the state of the nation does not depend. But it's also dangerously easy for selectors to get stuck in a rut, and fail to spot a downward trend linked to players who performed in the past.
Steve "Shag" Hansen and his mates are having trouble letting go.
But they need to think about giving some players a push.
We get fed a lot of myths and legends in rugby, including ones that don't match up to what we are seeing.
Better team than Shag's Army
Here's a team to do the job better than Shag's (Dad's) Army. And whether this team floats your boat or not, it's the principle that matters. There is so much ability within New Zealand rugby that a healthy dose of fresh legs with more potential attack is just as good a bet for getting the World Cup job done. There's just enough time to make something along these lines happen. It won't, of course, unless injuries force the changes.
My picks to get the World Cup job done:
Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Hika Elliot, Ben Tameifuna, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Whitelock, Ardie Savea; TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams.
