All Black coach Graham Henry is not crying over spilt milk and has nominated Piri Weepu as the man to navigate the team round the field.
Henry said yesterday the reality was the side had lost its first and second-choice No 10s, and it just had to get on with the game.
"Where we are lucky is the guys that are coming in have played test match football before and have played it quite recently. They have been with this group within the last 12 months," Henry said.
"They have been here, know the players, know the environment we live in, and generally speaking they know the type of rugby we want to play."
Much maligned Chiefs pivot Stephen Donald has been brought in to replace Colin Slade while Hosea Gear comes into the squad to replace Mils Muliaina.
Donald is next in line after Aaron Cruden who himself has only had a week with the squad, having replaced Dan Carter.
"Losing the first two [Dan Carter and Colin Slade] is a setback. Let's be frank about that. But that is reality."
With Carter and Slade gone, the onus is now on Weepu, who kicked seven penalty goals against Argentina on Sunday night, and had a fine game around the field.
Henry said Weepu had now taken on the mantle held by Carter, and he would continue to wear the No 9 jersey.
"I thought he was pretty good yesterday. I think he can navigate the side from there [halfback]. Because that is his best position. That is where he feels most comfortable. Having a young 10 with him it is very important he takes over the running of the side, the navigating of the team."
Henry said the heavy injury toll was just one of those things "and was just a fact with teams playing brutal games week after week".
It was the 10th test for the All Blacks in 12 weeks, a tough ask for any side.
"They have played a lot of football and I think it is going to be very important this week in how we handle everything. I think it was handled very well last week. You just can't train as you normally train. You have got to make sure guys have got a full tank come Sunday and have good clarity."
He said a specialist first five-eighth had to be brought in, and Donald was next player off the rank.
Donald was heading to Bath in England at the end of the tournament but was contracted to stay in New Zealand until the World Cup ended.
He had been training and was whitebaiting when contacted by Henry.
Gear was very unlucky not to make the initial squad and, with plenty of cover at fullback, the new Highlander will add more depth to the wing spot.
All Black doctor Deb Robinson confirmed Muliaina has a small fracture in his left shoulder and will need six to eight weeks to recover.
Slade has a tear in his abductor muscle in his left groin and will not recover in time to be fit enough again to play in the tournament.
Donald and Gear were due to join the training group this morning, as the All Blacks slowly get their week under way to face the Wallabies on Sunday night.
Captain Richie McCaw had come through the game well, Robinson said, and the initial reports were that he was fine after playing more than 70 minutes.
She said as far as she knew no surgery had been scheduled for McCaw after the tournament.
Israel Dagg, Richard Kahui and Adam Thomson, who all missed the quarterfinal victory over Argentina, are expected to be fit and available to face the Wallabies.