An almost first XV from the All Blacks named to take on Team Haggis, despite the canny Scots planning to play their 'second XV' to rest their players for the crunch game against Italy, the match that will decide who comes second in the All Blacks pool.

But, to be fair, will the Haggis second team be that much worse than their top lineup?  The Northern Hemisphere teams have been woeful thus far at the RWC, so a first team or a second team, canon fodder either way?  We'll see on Monday morning (New Zealand time).

As yet the Scots have not named their team.  The Kiwis of course have, and the team looks very close to the top XV that the All Blacks can put out.  Robinson as per usual) and Muliiana sit this one out injured, and Thorne and Masoe get a run with the big boys, resting Jack and Collins from the starting XV.

The locking situation will probably see Jack and Williams getting 40 minutes each, and Thorne going the full 80 in his first appearance at the 2007 RWC.  This gives both our world class locks a bit of a breather.  Expect the same thing to happen next week against Romania too, a half each with Robinson getting the 80 minutes, unless the Cartel go the whole hog and rest them both ready for the Semi final.  Perhaps that will depend on who finished second in the group of death - the Frogs, Argies or Paddys.  Paddy's or Argies, and they might need the extra game time, against the French, fully recharged and fresh would be the way to go.

The loose trio sees Collins rested, meaning that none of the top trio have started more than two games in a row.  Also give Masoe a start in what is probably his best position, or at least his most natural position.  Masoe's best game is as a second phase player, for want of a better phrase.  Someone who reacts to what is happening in front of him, as opposed to a first phase player, someone who is in their creating - be it at the tackle ball situation, or setting play up off the back of the scrum.  Masoe seems to be better feeding off others and knowing what to do from there.  While not the biggest man in the world height wise, barely touching the six foot mark, he is certainly big enough mass wise - 106kg, and a ball of muscle.  Anyway, I expect a big game from Masoe in this one, he's been disappointing all season, and it is time to deliver.

Lauaki is on the bench again, giving the human wrecking ball a chance to show his wares off the bench against a potentially good side.  He is basically playing here for Masoe's bench spot.  We will know this for sure if So'oilao gets some game time at seven with Lauaki at eight, giving the Cartel a look at another openside flank option other than the odd job man Masoe.

The midfield finally gets to see McAlister and Smith paired together, and this seems to be what the Cartel want to see, so a pointer to the big games to come.  Mauger blotted his copybook with his performance against Portugal, just not accurate enough for me in this match with his option taking.  Toeava seems to have dropped off the radar too, but has slotted onto the bench, so may get a half paired up with McAlister too.  He's playing for his life at the moment also, as the injured Mils would have slotted into 15 and MacDonald to the bench had all been fit.

The wing battle looks to have been won by Sivivatu and Howlett.  Leaving Rokocoko out in the cold.  While for pure strike power, the Rock is probably a better player than Sideshow Doug, it is the all round game that the All Black veteran brings to the table that sees him get the nod.  He probably causes less sleepless nights in defences prior to the game than the brown brothers do, but at the end of the day, he offers more across the park.  So one of the brown bros on the field to blitzkrieg opposing defences, and Dougy to do all the 'Reuben Thorne' work.  The stuff that the fans don't see, but the Cartel and players do!

Predictions?  Well, last time we played these Haggis boys in Scotland it was the Grand Slam tour, and we struggled to put them away.  I don't think there will be as much trouble this time, and a comfortable 20-30 point margin should put the All Blacks into the semi finals as top qualifiers for the group, a clash with who knows at this stage!

All Blacks:  Leon MacDonlad (Canterbury), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Richie McCaw (c, Canterbury), Chris Masoe (Wellington), 5 Ali Williams (Auckland), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Carl Hayman (Otago), Anton Oliver (Otago), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
Reserves:  Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Nick Evans (Otago), Isaia Toeava (Auckland).