Until an injury in June, there was not much doubt that Cruden was at the head of the five-eighths queue.
He was in the No10 jersey against Wales and working back in to international confidence after injury had derailed his previous season.
The injury curse returned and Beauden Barrett grabbed the jersey with such aplomb in the last test against Wales that he demanded repeat selections with a spectacular sequence of performances.
As that continued, there was a background rumble about huge offers to Cruden to play in Europe and heavy sounds from other contenders.
Lima Sopoaga hovers and is a gun goalkicker, Damian McKenzie is a wanna-be 10 and the selectors are fascinated by the potential of lanky teenager Jordie Barrett, who is also an expert kicker.
Kerr-Barlow outlasted a late halfback challenge from Augustine Pulu but the heat is coming from the national sevens man.
His passing consistency and decisions need to find a better balance, yet he brings plenty of venom with his unpredictable play and plenty of power to break the line or man the defences.
Kerr-Barlow used to show those traits but injury and team tactics have clipped his game and reduced his threats while Pulu carries that bristling, rogue element about his play.
The loose forward talent is astonishing and Dixon may find it hard to get enough minutes among the eight players going on tour. Is he a blindside flanker or a utility and has he been overhauled by Liam Squire, with Steven Luatua now tailgating him on this trip?
Dixon made his debut on the blindside against Wales and had one more sub appearance against the Pumas but otherwise has been unable to crack the playing 23, while Luatua was bowling along in the provincial competition.
Romano came in to the All Blacks in 2012 and has played 26 tests around competition from Jeremy Thrush, Dominic Bird, Patrick Tuipulotu and James Broadhurst as he claimed a World Cup role last year.
He delivers middle of the park grunt and carry but the cluster of challengers is growing as the coaches have varied their strategies.
Sometimes they've used Jerome Kaino, Luatua or Kieran Read to help at lock, rather than pick a specialist to back up Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
The All Blacks picked five props for the June tests and the Rugby Championship and have kept faith with that quintet for the tour to Europe, with Tu'ungafasi the last cab on that rank.
He has twice played as a replacement on the tighthead and brings the skills and mobility the coaches want but we don't know if he cuts it in the scrums.
A fit-again Pauliasi Manu, Nepo Laulala, Jeffery To'omaga-Allen and Kane Hames will bring that challenge next year.
