Aaron Cruden is out of the dog box but he's also out of the driving seat with Beauden Barrett endorsed now as the All Blacks leading No10.
The immediate picture at first-five is one of the more lively and fascinating in the squad as Daniel Carter was forced yesterday to pull out of the Canterbury team to play in the ITM Cup semifinal and is not certain to travel to the US and Europe with the All Blacks.
Head coach Steve Hansen confirmed that Carter will be named in the 33-man squad for the end of year tour in Monday, but that's not a guarantee the 100-test veteran will actually get on the plane.
Carter is not far from being passed fully fit and is in full training. He has an ongoing problem, however, that the nerves on his previously broken leg haven't settled quite yet and any blows in that area are being felt more than they should.
An open mind is being retained on his chances of coming right to play in Chicago. "We have got to name the team on Monday," said Hansen. "Being open and honest about it, he'll be named on Monday. And then we will have to make some assessments about whether he is right to play and when he's right to play.
"We want to take him on the tour if he is right. He's pretty good. He's able to train fully but he just can't take a knock on it - and I'm speaking on limited information because I'm over here and he's over there - but the nerves haven't settled down enough for him to respond well to a knock on it. That's what is effecting him."
How the next few weeks play out in regard to selection at first-five will be an endless source of interest. It is currently advantage Barrett.
