The All Blacks know very well what their best loose forwards trio looks like, they're just not ready to let the rest of the rugby playing world know what it is yet.
That was the message from selector Grant Fox, who told the Radio Sport Breakfast the first-choice trio would be revealed in "due course".
"This goes to the heart of a debate that people think we don't quite understand what our best loose forward combination is or where we sit with six. The answer is we do, but we're not prepared to announce that now."
The loose forwards have come under the microscope as the All Blacks edge closer toward finalising their World Cup squad. Shannon Frizell and Dalton Papalii were axed from the loose forward stocks earlier this week as the squad was trimmed from 39 to 34.
Listen to the full interview