So here's some cold hard facts for this weekends game against France in Cardiff.

The squad named for this week has been included, with their total number of tests matches and total tries, along with age and some milestone notes. See attached graphic for a full list of the test team. Also it highlights those in the team that are in the top 50 try scorers for the ABs of all time.

Some key facts from these numbers:

Key Milestones this weekend
This is the second most capped AB starting 15 to take the field ever, with 630 test caps. The most was 649 for the Italy game earlier on at the World Cup. That 649 mark should be eclipsed later on this world cup. Note, only Australia have passed the 650 mark before in tests (with 657 in the Eden Park test this year against the ABs - 21st July).

Joe Rokocoko could move up over his current 4th all time AB try scoring position this weekend. He's currently on 43 tries, just behind Jeff Wilson on 44 and Christian Cullen on 46. Note, he's played France 7 times, for 7 wins and has scored 8 tries in those games - with one hat trick, so it's not inconceivable he ties Cullen this weekend.

Richie McCaw becomes the most capped back rower All Black. He's currently tied with Zinzan Brooke on 58 tests as the 6th most capped forward. Forwards ahead of him on the list are Fitzpatrick (92), Ian Jones (79), Jack (66), Robin Brooke (62) and Dowd (60).

Richie McCaw is also the 4th highest forward try scorer equal with Michael Jones for the ABs on 13 tries, behind Zinzan Brooke (17), Kirkpatrick (16) and Kronfeld (14). Note that he's scored 5 tries in the last calendar year, so if he keeps going at that rate, he'll be the no 1 try scoring forward by the AB's by this time next year.

Dan Carter has also been scoring tries at an accelerated rate in the last year. He currently sits as the 9th equal all time try scorer on 21 tries, with the nearest other 1st five being Andrew Mehrtens with only 7 tries (scored in 70 tests compared with Carter's 43 tests so far). Carter has scored 7 tries in the last calendar year.

Scoring Ability - Test Tries
What is interesting to note, all of the backline, with the exception of McAlister feature in the top 50 try scorers (All Blacks) of all time. 3 of them in the top 10 (Rokocoko - 4th, Carter and Siviatu - 9th equal) along with Miliaina - 15th equal, MacDonald - 17th equal and Kelleher - 39th equal. One forward is on that list also, McCaw in 20th equal place, and one reserve Mealamu in 39th equal place. So that's 8 total - that's a pretty impressive scoring list to have in the team.

Note, we've still got Howlett in 1st place, who's not even playing in this test. So that's serious fire power in this team for scoring tries.

Strike power IS NOT going to be an issue for this team.

Experience - Test Caps
The previously two most capped AB team ran out against Italy on Stade Velodrome (Marseille) on 8th September 2007 with 649 caps and against Australia on Eden Park back on 21st July 2007 with 602 caps. The one named for this weekend has 630 starting caps, making it the second most capped starting team for the ABs, behind the Italy team named in the first game of this World Cup.

Note the last two world cup finals have had the most capped teams appearing. In 1999, Australia kicked off the World Cup final against France with, at the time, the most experienced team ever to begin a Test match. On that day, the 15 players had amassed 618 caps between them, an average of just over 41 appearances a match. And then early in 2003, Martin Johnson's English side boasted 623 caps as they lined up against the All Blacks, easing past Australia's mark to become the most experienced starting XV to take the field. Not sure how many caps they had when they played the final. So both those previous marks were eclipsed during the Italy test. Note that Australia have the current record of at least 657. The fifteen players who started for Australia in Auckland on July 21st 2007 had a combined total of 657 caps between them with three having each appeared in more than 50 tests plus two, Gregan and Larkham, both being test centurions. Note - I'm not sure if they've passed that tally since, but don't think so.

There are only 30 All Blacks that have played more than 50 test matches. Of these five - Oliver (58), McCaw (58), Kelleher (56), Muliaina (54) and McDonald (50) are starting this weekend, with another two - Jack (66) and Mealamu (50) are on the bench. When we make the final Rokocoko (47) and Collins (47) should join that exclusive list. Also we have Howlett (62), Somerville (57) and Thorne (50) with over 50 tests who are not in the 22 this weekend. That's a third, let me repeat that ....... a third, of the most experienced All Blacks of all time - in this squad.

Experience IS NOT going to be an issue for this team.