The more I think about this All Black team named to play Tonga, the more I think that aside from a couple of forwards, it is actually very close to the top XV.
Even if Richie McCaw was able to play at a pinch, it's hardly rocket science to let him sit this one out.
And Luke Romano's inclusion is a bit of rib-tickler for Brodie Retallick. The world's best player in 2014 has been strangely off his game.
But in the backs, it seems Hansen, Foster and Fox have taken a plunge many would have thought unthinkable twelve months ago.
And that's leaving Julian Savea out of the match day 23. But in 2015, Savea has been sadly quite some way from his best form.
So it's real no surprise the selectors have opted for Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder to start this one on the wings in what looks like the top back line. As predicted earlier on 3 Sports Non-traveling reserves show.
Given Savea was dropped during the Rugby Championship, something that was only revealed after the fact, his failure to fire has left the selectors with no choice.
And I can't help but wonder if those ignorant, ill-timed comparisons with Jonah Lomu haven't helped Savea when it comes to the old top two inches.
And he won't be helped by the likelihood of Sonny Bill Williams getting some time on the wing later in the game against the Tongans. How these All Blacks best utilise the two best second five-eighths in the game will be a key factor going forward in RWC 2015.
Now coming to Savea - have I got this completely wrong? Or is Steve Hansen "holding back" Savea in a calculated move, only to "reveal" him at his block-busting best against the Irish or French in the quarter final?
Tell us what you think.
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