Dan Carter's two-month injury layoff will hand Aaron Cruden his first start for the All Blacks in Sydney on September 11, but the real scrutiny will come on New Zealand's halfback duo.
It's fair to say Piri Weepu was a surprise selection at the beginning of the international season. Slightly plump at the time, and underperforming, he has now well justified his inclusion and should be No.1 pick.
Weepu and Jimmy Cowan have had a dream ride behind the dominant Tri Nations pack. New Zealand's forward play has mixed power with precision that has allowed the No.9s quick, clean ruck ball that their opposites have not enjoyed. That will not change for the remainder of the competition, but Carter's class has masked potential chinks in the All Blacks' armour.
Carter's kicks were charged on four occasions this year, because of Weepu and Cowan's tendency to take a couple of shuffle-steps, instead of firing from the base, before passing. While this forces inside defenders to hold for fear of a sniping run, it also decreases time and space for the first-receiver.
The Canterbury No.10 mostly makes it look easy. Time is always on his side. But Cruden, with the added pressure of starting, will need flawless delivery to attain his core tasks – especially when booting New Zealand out of trouble as Carter did several times in the title-securing win in Soweto.
Injured South African halfback Fourie du Preez, his Australian counterpart Will Genia and Francois Hougaard, who starred for the Boks on Sunday, all provide sharper dispatch than New Zealand's pair.
Weepu's best attributes are his ball-playing ability and vision, while Cowan is a defensively strong expert organiser. They will both need to assume more of the kicking mantle with DC out, as Cruden's punt is not one of his strengths.
Carter's absence poses two intriguing questions; who will do the goal kicking – again not Cruden's forte -and who is the 21-year-old's backup? Weepu will provide cover, with Luke McAlister and Colin Slade the probable frontrunners.
In short, the All Blacks' halfbacks delayed delivery has been effective, and well disguised, with the cool-calm-collected Carter at pivot, but with an exciting Manawatu prospect stepping into the role against Australia, speed of the pass will be key to assuring he has as little in-your-face pressure as possible.
Remembering, New Zealand's domestic competition boasts a number of pass first halfbacks; Wellington's Alby Mathewson being the obvious contender.