Colin Meads: Dagg's selection big talking point

Israel Dagg. Photo / Getty Images

The All Black selectors have pulled a few surprises in their side to play Tonga, but I'm pretty happy.

Israel Dagg was one of the big talking points and I like the selection. Dagg has to be in the team somewhere and he's played well on the wing before.

On the other hand, Mils Muliaina has been a fantastic player, but there comes a day ... They're not going to discard him altogether; before this cup is over he'll have his 100th test.

I'm quite happy with the way it's worked out because it means our captain will be the first player in New Zealand to play 100 tests, and I think that's an honour he deserves.

But it's quite a surprise to see Sonny Bill Williams and Isaia Toeava in the starting side. Toeava is a great player but I have my doubts on whether he's a wing.

Of the other options, most of our guys aren't true wingers; they all want to play somewhere else.

Zac Guildford struggled in that last test but I thought they might have given him another chance.

If the wingers don't front up, I'd expect to see Muliaina at fullback and Dagg on the wing.

In terms of Sonny Bill, there's been talk about his contract, but those sorts of things are irrelevant now, and I hope it didn't influence his selection. I hope they picked him for a reason and genuinely want to have another look at him. I hope he plays well.

I'm not unhappy playing Sonny Bill here. I'm still sure Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith will play against France. It might be a good thing that he can take some of the battering the Tongans are going to give us.

In terms of the pack, I'm most concerned with Tony Woodcock.

I hear he's got a hamstring twinge and the last couple of games he's been below par.

We know he's the greatest loosehead prop around, but he's been well off the pace and we need him fit and ready. It's quite sad he's pinched a hamstring and been on light training all this week, because if anyone needs the hard training, he does.

For the All Blacks, Friday's cup opener is about the combinations and atmosphere. It won't be the walkover a lot of people think.

For the first 20 or 30 minutes the Tongans are going to throw everything at us, and Richie McCaw's just got to tell the troops "it won't last for 80 minutes but we've got to weather the storm".

Pinetree's tip

So who will win the Cup?

In the long run, the pressure of expectation on the All Blacks will help them.

If you travel as much around the country as I do, you know that cup fever has gripped New Zealand. The All Blacks will feed off this and it will help them more.

I'm pretty confident. And I tell people who ask, if New Zealand plays well, they'll win. We've got the best 15 players, now it's up to the coach and managers to prepare.

All of New Zealand will be watching.