Full Back: Christian Cullen
Age: 21. Caps: 18. Tries: 18.
Best full back in the world and best attacking player. So good at sevens that he's scary. Breathtaking speed, devilish swerve and predatory eye for the line. Said to be vulnerable under the high ball, and under pressure from Todd Miller. Only in NZ.
Right-Wing: Jeff Wilson
Age: 24. Caps: 31. Tries: 21.
The best right-wing in the world? A natural, being an NZ international cricketer, an absolute flier, a footballer, a kicker and try-saving tackler. Scored five tries against Irish Development XV and ended game with touchline conversion.
Centre: Frank Bunce
Age: 35. Caps: 51. Tries: 20.
His performance with Western Samoa in the 1991 World Cup was his stepping stone to his NZ debut at 30. Defiant, triumphant Tri-Nations campaign. Crunching defence, brilliant chasing high ball.
Centre: Alama Ieremia
Age: 27. Caps: 11. Tries: 2.
Took opportunity when Little was injured and Stensness dropped. Nothing too flashy: solid tackler, good support player and rarely loses ball in contact.
Left-Wing: Glen Osborne
Age: 26. Caps: 17. Tries: 7.
Good footballing winger, as befits onetime centre and converted All Black full back. Big side-step, sharp counterattacker. Injury knocked him back, but Umaga injury opened door again.
Out-Half: Andrew Mehrtens
Age: 24. Caps: 18. Points: 286 (4 tries).
Effervescent character, meteoric rise to become second-highest NZ points scorer. Slight build, but smooth style and excellent weight transfer makes him prodigious kicker. Inventive attacker and good tackler.
Scrum-Half: Justin Marshall
Age: 24. Caps: 19. Tries: 9.
Strong, ninth-forward presence, with predatory instincts (he is within one of Sid Going's scrum-half try record) and good pass. Kicking is weak point of his game, but these things are relative.
Loose-Head: Craig Dowd
Age: 27. Tests: 37. Tries: 2.
Tall for a prop, once a bit of a line-out winner and earned one cap as replacement lock. Powerful scrummager, capable of switching to tight side for Auckland Blues, and workhorse in tight who also goes on the charge.
Hooker: Norm Hewitt
Age: 29. Caps: 4. Tries: 0.
Waited two years for first test as bloodbin replacement for Fitzpatrick against Ireland in '95. Holds NZ record of 41 as reserve hooker. This is only his second start. Super Super 12 season with Wellington Blues.
Tight-Head: Olo Brown.
Age: 30. Caps: 46. Tries: 4.
Born in Western Samoa, a cornerstone of pack since debut against Ireland five years ago. Widely considered world's best tight-head prop. Back to form after injury, big scrummager and often used as first runner off rucks and line-outs.
Second-Row: Robin Brooke
Age: 30. Caps: 40. Tries: 4.
A renowned scrummager and rucker. Loose game has blossomed in recent years with long passes and appearances on the wing, as befits a Brooke. World record 37 test partnerships with Ian Jones.
Second-Row: Ian Jones
Age: 30. Caps: 66. Tries: 7.
Try-scoring debut seven years ago signalled arrival of modern athletic lock. Key line-out figure and has already surpassed Willie John McBride's old world record of 63 tests for a lock.
Flanker: Taine Randell
Age: 23. Caps: 8. Tries: 3.
Future All Black captain, with Otago, NZ Colts CV to back that assertion up. Converted to the flank from number eight. Zinzan Brooke's long-term replacement.
Number Eight: Zinzan Brooke
Age: 32. Caps: 54. Tries: 17 (2 drop goals).
Free-spirited, potent runner, outrageous passer, massive punter, drop kicker, big hitter with NZ profile of a rock star. Farewell tour as the Harlequins shilling removes him from '99 World Cup.
Flanker: Andrew Blowers
Age: 21. Caps: 2. Tries: 0.
First full test and a star of the future. Back stress fractures this season delayed his progress. What Blacks lose through Kronfeld on the ground, they gain in Blowers' pace and terrific skills.
