The amazing thing about the All Black World Cup squad is how many holes there are in it. Four years in the making, it is dotted with untested, unfit, uncertain, under-done selections.
There's nothing to match the bombshell Australia dropped by naming only two proper hookers, one of whom - Tatafu Polata-Nau - isn't very good anymore and at best operated in fits and starts.
But as powerful as a top All Black match-day 23 is, there are problems waiting to be launched elsewhere.
Keven Mealamu is running on old legs, likewise Tony Woodcock although he tends to save his best for the black jersey, Codie Taylor is an unknown quantity and looks average, big Charlie Faumuina is well short on game time, a fourth lock couldn't be found, Liam Messam is going sideways, Victor Vito is a nearly man, Tawera Kerr-Barlow has hardly played this year, TJ Perenara has not stamped his mark at halfback, Colin Slade and Beauden Barrett are not dead-set convincing No. 10 backups, Dan Carter has been patchy, Sonny Bill Williams has been a flop in two out of three tests this season, Waisake Naholo will have been out for over two months when he takes the field.
