Coming into the World Cup, it was painfully shown that despite the All Blacks wielding unparalleled depth, they were unsure of their elite XV - which was shown to cruel effect. This depth was then unravelled by an exodus to rival that of the great religious creed.

This year, Graham Henry and his fellow selectors - forwards boss Steve Hansen and backline maestro Wayne Smith - have begun by at last signalling the need for consistent selection. This breeds combinations, establish patterns, and instals the swagger that an All Black team needs.  But, crucially, it means adapting the team and ensuring that a genuine mission statement is maintained so that the team and the supporting public know what is going on.

The most obvious is the installation of a high-work-rate flanker to support Richie McCaw – and ensuring that lineout options are increased with a taller loose forward - both Jerome Kaino and Adam Thomson are 1.96 metres tall (6 ft 5 in). 

The second change is the lack of a five-eighth-style centre, with Ma’a Nonu the only specialist No.12. He’s a runner of absolute menace, but a man without a real kicking boot.  Also, following on from the World Cup, the streamlined halfback option is back in vogue, with Piri Weepu’s absence the end of a line of ball-running power scrum-halves – notably Justin Marshall and Byron Kelleher.

To be fair, the All Black starting 22 for the Tests against Ireland and England are the strongest that they could field – maybe with the exception of form Crusaders Casey Laulau and Kieren Read, as well as discarded internationals Chris Masoe, Weepu and Jason Eaton.

This week the team is rotated, something that does need to happen. While the All Blacks do not need “two to three players of international class” in each position, as Henry has previously stated, they do need to ensure that there is some measure of depth. However, the coaching staff should be actively reviewing the current form of their New Zealand Maori players (this year’s All Black second XV), as this in itself is a high-level selection ground.

There are four changes to the team – and two positional switches. Rudi Wulf and Richard Kahui both earn their first international representative caps.  Both are contentious selections. Selection bolter Wulf, a solid but unspectacular winger, comes in, despite Anthony Tuitavake having a strong game last weekend and also offering more X factor, especially defensively. 

With Leila Masaga and Fetu'u Vainikolo unlikely not to make the All Blacks, Wulf needs a brilliant game. Kahui was selected initially in the squad due to his experience at both 12 and 13 – but why select him now when Conrad Smith is in such form?  With Casey Laulau and Isaia Toeava in the shadows, it is hardly a position without depth; and the midfield, a past All Black weakness, could benefit from stable selection.

One other change comes at fullback – with Leon Macdonald, the form fullback of New Zealand rugby, coming into the team.  This is a wise decision, with Macdonald having now being rested after a long Super 14 season. The final change comes with Adam Thomson coming in at blindside flanker.  The rangy Otago forward offers a lineout option and was in form throughout the Super 14. It is good to see his talent blooded, even though the Crusaders' Kieran Read was probably the better young No.6 in New Zealand rugby.

One of the positional switches moves Sitiveni Sivivatu to the right wing, to allow for Wulf to play on his favoured left side.  But the other is moving So’oialo, the new blindside flanker, back to his preferred No.8 role. Why move him now after blooding him for two games?  If he is being touted as a genuine openside support option, why not give him a game at No.7, and allow Jerome Kaino to continue his development?

Which leads to the genuine concern of the team's selections – what of the Crusaders? Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn and Andy Ellis have now played in 17 consecutive games over the same number of weeks. Should not Anthony Boric – seemingly the third-choice lock, be blooded, to give a rest to Williams or Thorn and develop him now?  Henry said he was too green to start a Test match of this level; but the next games are against the Springboks and Wallabies - will the Canterbury locks start all season?

Jimmy Cowan had arguably the best season of any New Zealand No.9. Should he not deserve a start and benefit from a starting role before the Tri-Nations?

But the crucial eye must be on the All Black juggernauts, Carter and McCaw, who have both shown in the last month that they are not only the premier players in their positions in world rugby, but also absolutely crucial to the national framework. Surely they must be played against the old foes in the upcoming Tri-Nations – so should they not be rested now? Should we allow for their understudies to have Test exposure now? 

Henry, outstanding Test record aside, has again shown crucial mistakes in the management of this All Blacks team. Against England they will likely not be exposed, but against Robbie Deans' Wallabies and the world-champion Springboks, such weaknesses could be cruelly exposed.

New Zealand team to face England in the second Test: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Willliams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Neemia Tialata. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Tony Woodcock, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Mils Muliaina.