KEY POINTS:
While Daniel Carter's injury will heal and his World Cup place is guaranteed, centre Conrad Smith does not have either of the same assurances.
Carter was a late withdrawal from the second test selection to play France tomorrow in Wellington after deciding his left ankle was not up to the rigours of an international.
His exit had an element of precaution about it as Carter can have a run next week against Canada to sharpen him for the Tri-Nations, and it is a further chance for Nick Evans to boost his international experience.
Smith's absence will be a greater concern for the midfielder and the All Black staff. He aggravated a hamstring strain in training and will not be available for the Canada test either.
His ill-fortune added another saga in Ma'a Nonu's fitful life as the 31st player in the squad. He was supposed to play for his Oriental Rongotai club in Wellington this weekend before linking up with the Junior All Blacks.
Instead Nonu has been promoted to the All Black bench because of Smith's absence and a bump Aaron Mauger took on his knee, which has removed him from consideration.
"It is hugely disappointing for Conrad because he seems to have been plagued by injuries since he broke his leg," assistant coach Steve Hansen said. "It is doubtful he will make the Tri-Nations squad but we will see how he responds."
Smith was not picked in the All Black conditioning squad but he missed a large chunk of the Super 14 through injury. He suffered eye-socket damage and then strained a hamstring which he reinjured in club rugby.
But he and Isaia Toeava were chosen as the centres in the 30-strong squad to prepare for the seven pre-World Cup tests against France, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
Smith was not fit for the Eden Park test against France but trained solidly this week and was chosen on the bench for tomorrow's match at Westpac Stadium until his hamstring returned to its unco-operative ways.
His struggle now will be to get fit and get any international play before the July 22 cut-off date for the World Cup squad selection. Meanwhile Toeava will start again at centre and Nonu will get further opportunities to make a statement from the bench or in training.
Others troubled by niggling problems - such as Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Byron Kelleher and Keith Robinson - all reinforced their fitness in a run at Eden Park yesterday before the side flew to Wellington.
Hansen said any chat with referee Craig Joubert would be about clarifying his demands at the scrums. The All Blacks wanted the scrums to be square and straight without any early engagements.
"We have to try to be stable when the others are looking to wheel us."
The side had spent a great deal of time this week with scrum guru Mike Cron to fix the issue.
Hansen said the French would be physically better for this test; they would have more energy to cope with the demands of their work.
Hopefully, he said, France had taken notice of All Blacks complaints about time-wasting at Eden Park.
All Black changes
* Nick Evans in for Daniel Carter.
* Ma'a Nonu in for Conrad Smith.
* Doug Howlett added to bench.
Milestone for Otago old boys
Two former Otago Boys High pupils will achieve the same milestone when they run out for the All Blacks against France tomorrow night.
Captain Richie McCaw and veteran halfback Byron Kelleher will be playing their 50th tests. Kelleher attended Otago Boys from 1990 to 1995, captaining the first XV in his final year.
McCaw (1994-98) never captained the first XV but his resume included being named head boy, head of School House, top all-round sportsman and finishing proxime accessit to dux.
