All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has confirmed that some of his squad will also be in consideration to appear for the Maori All Blacks during their annual end of year tour.
The Maori side is scheduled to play in Chicago against the host nation Eagles at Soldier Field a day prior to the All Blacks playing Ireland at the same venue, before both teams make their way to Europe.
Hansen believes there's a strong likelihood that those who qualify could appear for both teams.
"We'll look to play some, I think, in the Maori game," said Hansen at Auckland Airport, from where the team embarks today.
"We've got quite a few people who are eligible so we're going to ask some guys who are going to have play against Italy the next week, and it'll be nice to be able to give some of them a game.
"There will be some movement, yes. How much, we'll have to wait and see."
One of those players may well be halfback Aaron Smith, who's missed the last two All Blacks Tests since stepping down after his well publicised toilet tryst in Christchurch.
Either way, he's certainly back in his coach's good graces.
"I'd say so yeah," replied Hansen when asked of Smith's availability for selection.
"He's the best halfback in the world."
Well versed with the nuances of rugby in the northern hemisphere after his stint as Wales coach and also a number of such annual sojourns under his belt with the All Blacks, Hansen is prepared for the different set of challenges which await his team.
"Weather-wise, it is. It's just a different environment," said the 37-year-old when asked of any necessary adjustments.
"The stadiums are different and the mentality of the people we're playing is different – they're more physical. Their game up there is based more on set piece to set piece, it's not as fluent."
"We'll get a good look at that at a neutral ground in Chicago against Ireland. They'll come at us with everything they've got I'm sure, bring a lot of line speed and try to really out physical us."
Newshub.
