KEY POINTS:
Talk to Rory Lamont, Scottish rugby's pin-up player of the moment, and it's clear he'd love to run out against the All Blacks at Murrayfield on Monday morning.
Equally, the 24-year-old insists Frank's word is final.
Frank, as in Hadden the taciturn coach of Scotland, reveals his side to play the All Blacks about midnight.
Scotland have three games in 11 days to complete their pool C programme.
Playing the All Blacks at Murrayfield in the World Cup might rate as the pinnacle for many Scottish players, but they know their chances of beating Italy in St Etienne next weekend are far greater - and that will seal a quarter-final spot.
So Hadden is likely to rest several leading players. It will seriously damage the test as a contest, but pragmatism rules and Lamont's got no beef with that.
"It's a difficult question," Lamont said. "As a player you want to play every game. In my opinion I see the Italy game as the big one for us.
"Obviously the All Blacks are a big game as well but we've got to do everything we can to win the Italian game. I don't know what Frank's going to do, but the squad trust Frank fully. Whatever decisions he makes we know will be the right ones.
"I believe we can beat the All Blacks, don't get me wrong, but Italy is the one we've been eyeing up for some time. It's massive."
Scottish rugby has had its golden patches, and even when times have been lean they have invariably had gifted individuals.
Knowledgeable Scottish rugby folk reckon Jim Renwick, backline star of the'70s and'80s, was blessed with a touch of genius.
Others like John Rutherford, Andy Irvine, Ian McGeechan and Gavin Hastings were talented backs; John Jeffrey, Finlay Calder, Ian "Mighty Mouse" McLachlan and David Sole matched the best forwards around.
This Scottish squad contains some fine players, notably halfback Mike Blair and Lamont, whose two tries against Romania were the high points of a strong performance in the 42-0 win.
It was Lamont's 12th test and his fifth in a row at fullback, after switching from the wing. He looks a natural in the role, fast, elusive and a sound defender.
"I think it suits my skills. It's definitely the position I enjoy playing. I've played on the wing a lot but I feel I can get involved a lot more. I love taking the high ball, returning it and challenging defences."
Speaking of challenges, Lamont's was to transfer good club form at Glasgow to the international stage.
The younger brother of wing Sean, Rory Lamont acknowledges his confidence is high and if Scotland do go on to make the last eight, he'll be a key figure in their progress.
Perhaps just not against the All Blacks. And he points a finger at Cup planners for a demanding programme, where some teams - guess who - are cruising along on one game a week rations.
"Obviously the people who organised the schedule have no idea what it's like to play international rugby.
"It truly takes it out of you but us players just have to get on with it."
* Italy will need to improve for their pool C decider against Scotland, coach Pierre Berbizier said after his team struggled to overcome Portugal 31-5 yesterday. Italy scored two tries in the last eight minutes.
