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Rene Ranger (C) lines up with Brad Thorne and Cory Jane for the All Blacks - Source: Photosport -
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All Blacks coach Graham Henry claims that Rene Ranger will be back in the squad for the return Bledisloe Test in Christchurch. But history suggests that may not be the case, writes rugby reporter tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
Rotation or just not good enough? That is the question of 22 All Blacks who have come and gone since the 2007 World Cup with eight Tests or less to their name.
Brace yourself: Jamie Macintosh (1 Test), John Schwalger (2 Tests), Kevin O'Neil (1 Test), Ross Filipo (4 Tests), Daniel Braid (4 Test), Hikawera Elliot (1 match v Munster), Scott Waldrom (1 match v Munster), Alby Mathewson (1 match v Munster), Anthony Tuitavake (6 Tests), Rudi Wulf (4 Tests), Hosea Gear (2 Tests), Bryn Evans (2 Tests), Isaac Ross (8 Tests), George Whitelock (1 Tests), Tanerau Latimer (5 Tests), Aled de Malmanche (4 Tests), Wyatt Crockett (3 Tests) Tamati Ellison (1 Test), Ben Smith (1 Test), Lelia Masaga (1 Test), Mike Delaney (1 Test) and Zac Guildford (4 Tests) have all been shown the door in the last two years after playing just a handful of games or Tests for the All Blacks.
It is truly a staggering number and while a couple have been hampered by injuries - O'Neil and Delaney - and some are still very much in the frame - Mathewson, Guildford, Gear - it's worth noting that players of the calibre of Ellison (Japan), Tuitavake (Japan) and Wulf (Toulon) have recently moved on from New Zealand in the belief that their All Black days were numbered.
Braid, Macintosh, Elliot, Whitelock, Latimer, de Malmanche and Masaga may one day add to their Test tally but you would have to say that Scwhalger, O'Neil, Waldrom, Evans, Ross, Crockett and Smith are likely to never see the sight of an All Black jersey again.
If this is the case, does this middle layer of New Zealand rugby join the exodus that's already heading overseas or do they continue to grind away in Super rugby and the NPC?
Ellison, Tuitavake and Wulf have indicated in their decisions that the former option may be the wisest.
They have all cashed in while they are still recognised as recent All Blacks and have all profited generously.
So what now for Rene Ranger?
Will the two Test All Black, who came off the bench against Wales and started against South Africa become just another castaway?
If his Wellington outing against the Springboks is anything to go by you would have to say that the jury is still out.
The 23-year-old was true to his Jekyll and Hyde persona that night and while he scored one outstanding try and made a couple of telling runs, he compounded the positives with a handful of mistakes that have often plagued his game.
Competition for outside roles is also tight. Joe Rokocoko, Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Guildford, Gear and a returning Sitiveni Sivivatu is one hell of a pecking order while any aspirations to be the All Blacks' centre is blocked by Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui - the addition of Sonny Bill Williams only adds to the congestion.
So will Henry live true to his word and give Ranger another shot?
Well if recent history is anything to go by, don't bet on it.
