If the Godfather says that is a headline the press should use, than it's good enough for the Fern.  The fact that it has helped too, with our top five locks out this weekend, we are still fielding a pretty handy second row.  Sure, a second XV second row, but one that while not taking any medals, will not let the black jersey down in a red hot test match.  They should prove too much for the poor Canadians.  And please, no, I am not claiming that the Fern is press!

Anywho, test time again, versus the Canucks at Hamilton this Saturday night. 

Interesting selections abound in this team named.  Nothing too off the wall though, most forced by the need to give players match time.

First point that I noticed though, was the Wellington laden pack.  An all Wellington front row, 4 out of the five tight five, and two of the loose trio.  Six in total.  And from a pack that strikes fear into no one at NPC level, and even less at Super level, how good can this be?  Lets hope that they suffer from 'Rockitus' where putting a black jersey on turns you from an average player into a world class performer!

Debuts from two of the Wellingtonians, prop John Schwalger, who I recall slating two short seasons ago as not being good enough to play for Wellington, let alone the All Blacks, and Ross Filipo, who I tipped to make the All Blacks this season, if I thought the Cartel was going to be picking on form, not on World Cup R&R form. 

Schwalger playing at loosehead also means his regular propping partner Tialata starts the test match at three.  Sure 'only' the Canadians, but a good test of his anchoring ability at scrum time.  If he can't keep concentration for 80 minutes against these blokes, what chance in a test match that counts against the likes of the Boers or the Frogs over the coming months.  So his test is every scrum being solid as a rock.  As is Schwalger's to a lesser extent, as he is, at this stage, 4th prop, and holding a seat on the RWC plane warm for, perhaps, Greg Somerville.

Jerry Collins at number eight, for a couple of reasons.  The first being, with the resting of McCaw, there is only one other All Black in the squad who is an openside flanker, and that is Chris Masoe.  So Masoe has to play seven, and does not get another chance to try and hone is number eight skills.  It's not as if Masoe was under pressure in that first Frog test when he was fouling up, so it might be a good thing that he is not there again.  Collins has played test rugby at eight already, and when he and Rodders first hit the traps for Wellington and the Hurricanes, Scary Jerry was 8 to Rodders 6.  This is not really a trial for Collins as number eight, as we know, and the Cartel know he can do the job.  This is more a quick refresher for the big man!

Captaincy going to Reuben Thorn over Jerry Collins.  Two reasons perhaps, one, Thorne is a better leader, and two, Collins doesn't like being captain.  I am sure Collins would lead the team if he had to, but he is better used as a Buck Shelford leader, as in 'follow me'.  You don't need a little (c) by your name to be a leader on the rugby field at any rate.  All that means is that in the team photo you get to hold the ball.  Which is why props love being captain, as it means that they get to handle the ball at least once each season...

Kelleher gets another shot at the nine jersey.  In his fifty test career, I don't think he as even had two top games in a row, the consistently inconsistent would describe the feisty halfback.  If he can back up last weeks performance with another top drawer display, he may just pip Weepu for the Tri Nations, and ultimately, the Rugby World Cup.

Dan Carter gets a start too, after his disrupted French series, where a rolled ankle in the first test put paid to his playing more than the first 40 of Frog test one.  He combines with his old hunting partner for Canterbury and the Crusaders, Aaron Mauger.

It gets more interesting in the midfield though.  The two in form, and world class second fives, or inside centres, are paired up.  McAlister moved out one wider to thirteen, and Mauger remaining in his favoured 12 shirt.  On attack, this pairing will be dangerous as hell.  Hell, from Carter through to Mauger we have three play makers, all with different strengths.  No matter which way you lined this trio up, it means trouble. 

Trouble though in reverse perhaps - defence.  McAlister has been known to slip of a tackle or two in his time, as has Mauger.  As have all players really, but it is less forgiving, and a tad more obvious when a midfield is broken, as opposed to a fatty missing a tackle close in, only for the tackle to be made a foot later by another fatty in the close quarter combat that is forward play.

But lets give them a chance, they have never played together here before, and, on paper, it is a very exciting combination.  Ceratinly the most skilled the All Blacks have fielded in a long time.  Oh yeah, the reason for this combination is the resting of Toeava, and Conrad 'Foodbill' Smith, strangely enough, being injured...

The back three, Muliaina gets his first game at fullback, and Howlett gets his first start on the wing this season.  Sivivatu backs up for his third test match on the trot, the poor baby will be exhausted!!  As I have said in the past, any three of five quality players here is all good, so just keeping the rust away and giving blokes time on the field.  The back three is probably the hardest part of the side to select, giving that there are so many good players vying for the spots.

The reserves, a very handy looking bunch too.  Mealamu and Hayman, So'oialo and McCaw waiting in the wings to burst onto the field.  Four world class forwards, riding the pine - the Canadians must be happy about this, although it means when and if they take the field, it will be against an already tiring defence, so it might not be a good thing...  The back subs, Weepu, Gear and MacDonald.  Plenty of class there too - a bloke like Gear could wreck havoc on the field here if he takes the pitch.

All Black team:  15 Mils Muliaina (Waikato)  14 Doug Howlett (Auckland)  13 Luke McAlister (North Harbour)  12 Aaron Mauger (Canterbury)  11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)  10 Dan Carter (Canterbury)  9 Byron Kelleher (Waikato)  Jerry Collins (Wellington)  7 Chris Masoe (Wellington)  6 Reuben Thorne (c, Canterbury)  5 Ross Filipo (Wellington)  4 Troy Flavell (Wellington)  3 Neemia Tialata (Wellington)  2 Andrew Hore (Wellington)  1 John Schwalger (Wellington)
Reserves:  16 Keven Mealamu (Auckland)  17 Carl Hayman (Otago)  18 Rodney So’oialo (Wellington)  19 Richie McCaw (Canterbury)  20 Piri Weepu (Wellington)  21 Rico Gear (Tasman)  22 Leon MacDonald (Canterbury) .

So that's the team.  The Canadians, I have not heard of any of their players. 

A score prediction - a point a minute or something like that would be acceptable.  More importantly keeping the defensive score sheet clean.

After all, World Cups are won by the team with the best defence.