The cricket season is over, so as the Black Caps pack the pads away thoughts turn to the winter code's national team. Halfway through the Super 14, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at performances of prospective national players and who is doing enough to come into All Black contention.
In 2002, John Mitchell - bless him - picked 14 Crusaders in a test to face the Irish.
Names such as Ralph, Thorne and Hewett were supposedly first-choice All Blacks.
Well, the chances of that happening this year are about as high as seeing a General Motors dividend.
With the Crusaders spluttering along and some of their players badly out of form or injured, the All Blacks will truly be a national team.
All the New Zealand teams are fairly even, and it is hard to see any one franchise dominating the All Blacks.
There are a few obvious candidates and there should be a Highlander or two in the selectors notes.
Fullback
Week in, week out, Mils Muliaina just comes up with the goods for the Chiefs. He can seemingly do it all and has added leadership to his bag of tricks this year. His name would be one of the first written on the team sheet.
Of the rest, Leon MacDonald's body may be coming to the end of the line, while Cory Jane is struggling to get on the paddock. Isa Toeava has been his usual self - good at times, average at others. Israel Dagg has got plenty of promise, is improving and his time will come. But not this year.
Wing
Sitiveni Sivivatu is his usual inconsistent self but he is still performing well enough and has that rare ability to ghost past people. His Chiefs partner, Leila Masaga, looked a million dollars for a few games but has now been stopped by a leg injury, as has Hosea Gear.
Joe Rokocoko is showing plenty of enterprise for the Blues without many results. Highlander Ben Smith has not been out-played against much heavier and more experienced players, showing skills and rugby sense can never be overlooked.
Midfield
Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Richard Kahui all look like certainties and have been in good form. The Blues have struggled in their midfield while Callum Bruce is showing some nice touches but test rugby is a bridge too far.
Jason Shoemark is in the same category while the Crusaders midfield does not create enough and lacks a physical presence without Casey Laulala.
First five-eighth
What is it about Stephen Donald that does not quite convince? Is it the ungainly punting style? His ability to miss the easiest of kicks? The way he runs across field at times?
Piri Weepu may be a safer bet. He is experienced at this level and his fitness looks good.
Highlander Daniel Bowden has looked polished but may be needs another year at this level.
The drums beating for Stephen Brett have been well and truly silenced.
Halfback
Brendon Leonard and Jimmy Cowan. Daylight third.
Weepu may get a look in but receiving rather than passing the ball from No 9 does not help him. Alby Mathewson has pace but tends to get lost at the back of the breakdown.
Andy Ellis has failed to fire this season, hampered by injury.
No 8
Rodney So'oialo is his usual dependable self but for aggression, speed and skills it would be hard to go past Chiefs loose forward Liam Messam, although he is playing on the blindside flank more than the back of the scrum.
Crusaders No 8 Thomas Waldrom is all action and is hard to stop. Sione Lauaki is too inconsistent and error prone.
Flankers
Adam Thomson is starring in the Highlanders side, grabbing turnover ball, making tackles and popping up all over the park. Not far behind is team-mate Alando Soakai, who is having a stellar year.
Richie McCaw has been injured but is a certainty while Kieran Read is looking more and more like Reuben Thorne. Whether that is a good or a bad thing is open to an endless debate. Scott Waldrom has been hampered by injury and tends to give away plenty of penalties.
Josh Blackie's return from Japan for an All Black jersey has been blighted by a nasty ankle injury but Jerome Kaino has been industrious.
Lock
Ali Williams has barely got out of first gear but seems to be like that every year. Injuries have not helped. Brad Thorn is still turning it on despite being in his 35th year. Hurricane Jeremy Thrush has moved up a gear, shading his partner, Jason Eaton.
Tom Donnelly is warming to his work after a disrupted start to the season, while Ross Filipo has fallen completely off the radar. Josh Bekhuis has made big strides this year.
Prop
Tony Woodcock has been hampered by an injury but his propping partner, John Afoa, is playing well, and getting round the paddock. Neemia Tialata and John Schwalger have failed to dominate and Ben Franks is injured.
If Jamie Mackintosh keeps playing as well as he did against the Bulls then he must be considered. Crusader Wyatt Crockett gets through plenty of work and is rarely beaten at scrum time.
Hooker
Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu are clearly the best in the country. Chiefs rake Aled de Malmanche seems to sighted around the paddock but is that because of his haircut and unusual last name ?
Hika Elliot is coming off the bench while Corey Flynn is injured yet again.
