Don't look now, but there is a test on in about 24 hours (as I write this).  'Trial' test two of the All Blacks season, against the French once again.

First test, the standard rusty performance from the Men in Black, but still a comfortable win.  A few changes this week, resulting in a stronger looking forward pack, and perhaps even a classier looking back line - a more in form one anyway, especially after Carter being replaced by Evans.

So the forward changes.  Out go Thorne, Jack, Masoe and Mealamu, and in come the hard nuts.  Jerry Collins, Keith Robinson, Anton Oliver and Rodney So'oialo.  The only backward step that lot would ever take is so they can get a longer run up before running into brick walls at training.

I think it certainly does improve the pack.  The best loose trio in world rugby at the moment rolls out for their first test together of the season.  Individually, McCaw can be rated the best seven in the world, Collins would be close to being numero uno, but So'oialo?  Nope, Rodders is not the best number eight in the world, in the top few, but not vying for gold at World XV level.  Put this trio together though, and they are the best on the block at the moment.

Keith Robinson and Anton Oliver coming in for 'nice guys' Jack and Mealamu add some starch to the tight five too.  You might lose a bit of ball carrying zing with Mealamu being off the field, but abrasiveness and bloody mindedness, you gain!  Not saying Mealamu isn't a hard bastard - I think  a certain Convict hooker Mr Cannon can attest to how hard the Blues man is, but Oliver, well, he's a different class.  Robinson in for the horribly out of form Jack adds more steal to the engine room, and if he can perform like we know he can - class - this could give he and Ali Williams (TSF's man of the match from test one) a head start in the race to be the number one lock pairing this season.

Retained from test one against Les Frogs are props Woodcock and Hayman, Williams and McCaw.  McCaw will be wanting to step up his game this week, while the other three were all in good form - Williams exceptional.  If Ali can repeat that performance two weeks in a row, it will be a big step in the right direction for him, and another raised middle finger in the direction of the Blues coaching staff again, in particular Nucifora.

All in all a more powerful 'take no prisoners' forward pack on the field.  The fear factor has gone up a notch or two, Collins and Robinson, as opposed to Thorne and Jack, hell even some of hard me of days gone by would look over their shoulders with that pair behind them!

A harder pack will be needed this week too, as the French will not be happy with their soft cock performance from last week.  Expect fireworks up front as they try to intimidate themselves to a respectable score line, or, gasp, even a win...

The back line changes, Lucky Luke in for the in form Mauger, Kelleher rotates in for Weepu, and Evans starts this test, instead of coming on at the half for an injured Carter.  Carter gets a rest this test for his left ankle.  Carter would have been able to start this match had it been a RWC quarter or semi final, but test two of the busy season ahead, no reason to push things too hard too early.

Panadol MacDonald gets another shot at fullback, as does Toeava at centre.  Good news on both fronts.  In form, Panadol is a class fullback.  He's just had no form this year.  At all.  He started to look as if he was getting his mojo back during the first test though, and is probably one confidence boosting run away from being back to his best.  Toeava gets another start too, thanks to Conrad Smith being as hard as he looks (skinny white boy, think a bout it), and being injured again.  This is good too, as the more he plays, the better he gets, so game time for Toeava now will pay off in spades further down the road as the important tests start.

Reserves, with the withdrawal, due to injury of Smith and Carter, Nonu has been recalled, again to the All Black fold, and Howlett added to the bench too, but from within the squad.  Leonard gets his second All Black jersey, and is joined on the bench by the fatties Mealamu, Tialata, Jack and Masoe. 

The team then, named to smash the Frogs again...

15  Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), 14  Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), 13  Isaia Toeava (Auckland), 12  Luke McAlister (North Harbour), 11  Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), 10  Nick Evans (Otago), 9  Byron Kelleher (Waikato), 8  Rodeny So'oialo (Wellington), 7  Richard McCaw (Canterbury, c), 6  Jerry Collins (Wellington), 5  Keith Robinson (Waikato), 4  Ali Williams (Auckland), 3  Carl Hayman (Otago), 2  Anton Oliver (Otago), 1  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
16  Kevin Mealamu (Auckland), 17  Neemia Tialata (Wellington), 18  Chris Jack (Canterbury), 19  Chris Masoe (Wellington), 20  Brendon Leonard (Waikato), 21  Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), 22  Doug Howlett (Auckland).

Prediction time.

All Blacks to win again, by pretty much the same sort of margin - perhaps even stretching it out to 40 points...