KEY POINTS:
TOULOUSE - The All Blacks haven't swayed from their group therapy approach to selection this week, the last time before rugby World Cup reality bites.
Coach Graham Henry said there wasn't any temptation to name his strongest team to face Romania in Toulouse on Saturday.
It is their
final hitout before a massive step for the following week's quarterfinal and some critics felt selection continuity was crucial in the wake of last weekend's scratchy 40-0 defeat of Scotland.
The first thing an apparently unsettled Henry did when announcing his team today was decry the perceived panic over how his team were travelling.
"I hear there's a wee bit of anxiety at home because we had a couple of days off and we didn't play well against Scotland," he said.
"We're not playing the top team going into the quarterfinals and what the hell's going on with the All Blacks?"
He emphasised several times the All Blacks' pool phase methodology, which was to keep the players fresh and to grant them all game time.
That would ensure competition remained hot for places right up until the knockout phase.
"We've got 30 players who are all pretty keen and will be all fit next week going into the quarterfinal," Henry said.
"We've fulfilled the strategy, we feel we're on track, this has been planned for a long, long time.
"We're feeling comfortable with where we're at. I don't why people are having some anxious times at home but I guess it's being fuelled by you people (media)."
As expected, lock Keith Robinson will make his first Cup appearance after at passing tests on his lingering calf strain this week.
Third-choice halfback Andrew Ellis wins a first test start, something that every squad member will now have achieved at the tournament.
The majority of this weekend's team are unlikely to start at Cardiff.
Henry said a squad of 22 was "pencilled in" to his mind for next week but he hadn't discussed it yet with the selectors.
That would wait until after Saturday's match but it appears there will be few surprises, judging by Henry's comments.
"We've been pretty consistent in selection over a long time," he said.
Saturday's team, to be captained by flanker Jerry Collins, features just four players back from the Scotland test - winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, first five-eighth Daniel Carter, lock Reuben Thorne and flanker Chris Masoe, who switches from the blindside of the scrum to the openside.
Carter's selection is the most intriguing.
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith insisted Carter was only there because they wanted to give backup first five-eighth Nick Evans more time at fullback, leaving the No 10 jersey open.
Yet Evans played 60 minutes at the back against their stiffest pool opponents and is very unlikely to be needed there in the knockout stages, unless both Mils Muliaina (hamstring) and Leon MacDonald (bruised thigh) suffer relapses.
Both could have played this week, Henry said, but the selectors erred on the side of caution.
Carter's selection could be more to do with giving the 25-year-old another chance to sharpen his confidence, particularly in terms of goalkicking.
The key playmaker was quick to agree when Henry asked him if he was keen on another hitout this week.
"I prefer getting a few games under the belt and getting a bit of momentum," Carter said.
"Ten days out from the quarterfinal, I'm looking forward to it."
Carter said his four-from-nine goalkicking return against Scotland would be unacceptable in any of the major tests next month.
"I feel my general play is pretty good," he said.
"I'm reading the games, seeing what's happening in front of me, setting guys up, which is good.
"I definitely want to improve my kicking going into the next week or so."
The team underwent their last training session in a chilly Aix en Provence today before boarding an afternoon train to Toulouse.
Only MacDonald and prop Carl Hayman (bruised calf) didn't take a full part.
Robinson came through unscathed, leaving Henry delighted the tough lock was on the verge of completing a brave return.
"It's been a real challenge for Robbo. He's been patient the last couple of weeks... and he looks in great shape," Henry said.
"At times I think he wondered whether the frustrations were worthwhile but I'm 99 per cent sure after Saturday he'll feel good about this whole thing."
- NZPA
