KEY POINTS:
Given the lack of threat presented by Portugal and Romania, the real interest during the pool round will be how Graham Henry shuffles his deck.
The All Black coach hasn't given too much away about his selection strategy for these next few weeks, other than to confirm he wants to give all 30 players some game time.
What that probably means is that he will make wholesale changes this week for the Portuguese match. That won't be so much to give those who didn't start against Italy an opportunity to push their claim, it will be more about preserving his top XV.
There is no need to risk injury in a game this week that will be won by a cricket score regardless of who starts. The selectors are also aware that the searing heat of Marseille as well as the physicality of the Italians will have taken their toll on the team which Henry said was pretty close to being the best available.
The game against Portugal will produce some points of interest. Greg Somerville will be keenly watched to see how he handles his first test in almost 18 months and there will probably be a desire to see him pack down with Anton Oliver next to him.
Oliver and Somerville are potential bench men during the knock-out rounds and they could find themselves working together on the paddock in the biggest games.
Ideally, the selectors would have liked to have started the specialist lock who missed out against the Italians.
But with Keith Robinson injured and unlikely to be available, either Chris Jack or Ali Williams will have to back up, probably in a partnership with Reuben Thorne, if he recovers from injury
That, though, will force one of the back row who started against Italy into action again in a combination that will feature Chris Masoe and Sione Lauaki.
Lauaki is another who will be closely watched as the big loose forward is on the mend from knee surgery and is short of game time. The 26-year-old has been brought with a specific role in mind.
"Sione is a player we want to bring on and make an impact," said forwards coach Steve Hansen. The selectors need to be convinced that Lauaki is fit enough to come off the bench and make a difference, which means he will probably be given some time on the pitch against Scotland and possibly even against Romania.
If the team can avoid major injuries against Portugal, the bulk of the XV that started against Italy is expected to be reunited against Scotland.
The only areas of contention are probably at hooker, lock and wing. Having preferred Oliver for most of this season, Henry was talking last week about improving the explosive power of the former All Black captain.
He mentioned using Oliver in the back row at the trial games the All Blacks played before leaving for France and the inference was that they see him more as a potential impact player off the bench.
Robinson's calf will dictate the make-up of the middle row and, if he's fit, he'll most likely start and most likely partner the lock who didn't start against Portugal.
Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith would likely have been given another crack at developing their midfield partnership but that now depends on Smith's dodgy hamstring. It's probable that Doug Howlett will make way for Joe Rokocoko after Henry warned that not too much should be read into the Auckland wing starting against Italy.
"We thought Doug played particularly well in the Air New Zealand Cup," said Henry.
"He hasn't been in the top XV for a while but there is a lot of rugby to be played."
For the final pool game against Romania, there's a good chance the selectors will stack their bench with big names and try to get them all on for at least the final 20 minutes.
Henry and his team would be confident that games against Italy and Scotland would be enough to get his top team match-ready for the tougher challenge of the knockout round.
But there might just be a desire to see something close to the top XV finish off against Romania so there is momentum and confidence to carry straight through to the quarter-final.
