KEY POINTS:
Blindside flanker Jerry Collins will captain a collection of All Blacks this weekend as the selectors try to squeeze everyone into World Cup mode in the second game against Portugal.
Collins led the All Blacks to a narrow 25-19 win against against Argentina last season in Buenos Aires in an awkward debut as national captain. The main task in his second tilt as skipper on Saturday in Lyon will be keeping his side's concentration against the amateur Portuguese.
He takes over from Richie McCaw in what may be a straight rotation for the openside flanker, who is being saved - like chief playmaker Daniel Carter - as much as possible for the tournament playoff phase.
But McCaw did take a nasty tumble yesterday during an afternoon spent on recovery games and aerobic drills, as the side trained at their base in Marseille.
He was quite distressed after his spill and had immediate treatment to help alleviate the damage.
Test lock Chris Jack also hurt a shoulder in training but has been picked for the Portugal test.
Prop Greg Somerville will be all attention after a year out with an Achilles tendon rupture and retina damage, which required surgery.
Fellow prop Neemia Tialata is also in action after minimal play since he was concussed in the national championship.
It has been two years since No 8 Sione Laukai donned the national colours, with persistent injury or fitness issues removing him from consideration. He was one of the two surprise choices when the selectors rejigged their final World Cup squad.
Lauaki overcame concerns about his dodgy knees and fitness to squeeze into the loose forward mix, where the staff want him to reproduce his damaging surges and strong defence in his eighth test.
The other tour wildcard, halfback Andrew Ellis, is included on a hotchpotch bench where four frontrowers are picked to help ease the burden on those who begin the test against a clunking Portugal pack.
Lock Keith Robinson and utility Reuben Thorne were not considered again because of their leg injuries.
However, there was optimism Conrad Smith would continue to improve from his hamstring problem to start this test at centre - as he was supposed to against Italy.
The desire to get Smith into action means midfielder Isaia Toeava has been shifted to the wing to get some matchplay, while Mils Muliaina has returned to fullback after he had little involvement against Italy.
In Lyon it is Nick Evans' turn to control the team direction and rhythm from first five-eighths.
He started one test this year against France and has had bit part roles in others. He would be a regular pick were it not for the wizardry of Carter.
He will get some strong guidance from Aaron Mauger who has just eased from his regular automatic test selection.
All sorts of noises will be made about the All Black benefits to be derived from this test which should be no more than another opposed training session.
How they can judge players in what should be a thrashing against those who administered similar punishment against Italy is one of the problems of the weak All Blacks draw.
Their anxieties will be about picking up injuries and being able to maintain their patterns without just starting to flick the ball around because of their athletic and skills supremacy.
All Blacks to play Portugal, Lyon, 11pm Saturday
Backs:
Mils Muliaina, Isaia Toeava, Conrad Smith, Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Nick Evans, Brendon Leonard
Forwards:
Sione Lauaki, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Ali Williams, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata
Reserves:
Anton Oliver, Tony Woodcock, Carl Hayman, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Ellis, Leon MacDonald.
