With the naming of the All Black team to play the Convicts in the first Bledisloe Cup match this weekend, we see the All Black jigsaw nearing completion.  For the forward pack at any rate, and perhaps for the backline too if you start trying to second guess.  But the forward pack, it is prety much done and dusted.

The pieces are rapidly falling into place, the latest being old Grenade Face himself, the thesauruses eater, the man who will use a thousand words when one would suffice, the man who was ready to retire just two short seasons ago, Mr Anton Oliver.

This latest piece of the jigsaw, Oliver, now sees six of the forward packs named printed on each weeks team sheet, as opposed to being pencilled in.  The front row of Oliver, Hayman and Woodcock, and the back row of Collins, So'oialo and McCaw.  All world class performers, and debatable, all the best in the world in their respective position.  Debatable with Oliver, as Mealamu, some might argue, is a better hooker than the man keeping him in the 16 jersey.

The only spots left open in the pack are at lock, where the injury toll makes it look like the boys have been training in the hills at Gallipoli during WW1, not on the rugby field.  But of then locks left, when they come back on line, we'll see the two jerseys up for grabs between Williams, Robinson and Jack.

So the world now knows the pieces of our jigsaw up front, but for deciding which three to fit into the last two slots - and not a bad looking jigsaw if I say so myself.

The blouses out back though, a different story, and not so clear cut yet, although there are some serious pointers, it's just reading them right that is the hard part.

I think first choice players now would be Kelleher, Carter (duh!), Toeava, Rokocoko, Sivivatu and Muliaina.  Not certain on the Toeava, but time is running out for Conrad Smith, and even though Muliaina is nowhere near his top form, there is plenty of time pre RWC for him to hit it.

That leaves second five as not clear cut, not yet.  The poll on the forum here shows a 60/40 split for Mauger over McAlister, and that is probably right.  McAlister is starting this week, after a dominating performance, off the bench, last week against the Boers.  If he can replicate that, he might get the nod.  I think the only thing that is keeping Mauger at 12 is the mans composure.  He is unflappable, and does a pile of work on and off the ball, a good kicking game, but mainly, composed.  His experience can't be trained, it's earned, and once McAlister earns his stripes there, he'll be the man in 12.

A lot of these selections though, both forwards and backs are 'combination' selections.

The Cartel do not see Oliver as a bench player.  If Mealamu was to start a test match, Andrew Hore would be on the bench, as he offers more off the pine with his ball carrying than Oliver does with his tight play.  They like to start Oliver, as they think putting the squeeze on forward packs from the start drains them of much needed fuel late in the game - when Mealamu comes on (who is by no means a slack scrummager at any rate), and rips into them with his explosive running.

Mauger over McAlister too, another combination thing - this time it is that experience thing, and McAlister coming on late in the piece once the early pressure is off works - or did last week anyway!

Kelleher over Weepu is another of the 'combination' selections too, one man better starting than the other, but both class players, neither of whcih would let you down if they started, but Weepu better off the bench than Kelleher is.

Where does this leave players that were vying for these positions during the rotation period of the last two years>  The Reuben Thornes, the Doug Howletts and co?

In Reuben Thorne's case, I think it might leave him with us come World Cup time, watching the rugbyu on the screen.  With Flavell finding favour, and able to play the lock / six thing, Thorne might be left behind for another game breaker along the lines of Lauaki or even Kaino, who has been getting a lot of time at six / lock for the Juniors, which might be the biggest pointer of all.

Time will tell, as it always does.  Perhaps some of these fringe players might be given a crack against the South African side coming out sans their 20 best players.

Anyway, with two tests left before the Rugby World Cup, it looks like the All Black jigsaw is nearly complete - can the Boers or the Wobblies say that I wonder?