OPINION: It was a consistent message from All Blacks coach Ian Foster, as he returned to his old stomping ground at Te Awamutu Rugby Club - several very good players have missed out on selection.
Brad Weber would have to be sitting comfortably at the top of that list. The Chiefs halfback has been a vital cog in the Chiefs' success this season, distributing well and linking brilliantly with Damian McKenzie at first-five.
In a World Cup year, you cannot buy experience, and the All Blacks need to strike a balance between rewarding Super Rugby form and ensuring they have World Cup experience.
Weber, Finlay Christie, and Folau Fakatava were clearly in a threeway battle to fill the third halfback spot. Aaron Smith was locked in before he’d even picked up a ball this season, while Cam Roigard has been one of the Hurricanes' best and duly deserves his maiden selection.
If Smith were to go down before a crunch game, the All Blacks are badly exposed at halfback and dangerously light on experience.
Christie has the chance to make a statement during the Rugby Championship, after failing to really stand out for the Blues. If not, it’s entirely possible his spot gets handed to Weber for the World Cup.
Shaun Stevenson couldn't have done much more to convince the All Black selectors he was ready to make the step up to test rugby.
During last year’s NPC with North Harbour, Stevenson finally began to show the lethal running game and sharp instincts many coaches have known he’s capable of for a long time.
That form has only flourished with the Chiefs this year, as he became easily one of their best backs and possibly the form outside back in the country. His ability to cover wing should’ve held him in good stead for an All Black call-up, but Foster has decided he’s only good enough to be injury cover.
You have to ask, what more could Stevenson have done? If he can’t get picked on the back of that sort of season, when can he?
In terms of genuine bolters, no-one who fits that description more than Dallas McLeod. He’s been good without being great for the Crusaders, has shown touches of promise in the midfield and good versatility to be able to slip out to the wing as well.
Jack Goodhue seemed to be returning to his best form, while Levi Aumua could’ve offered the All Blacks a genuine ballrunning threat in the midfield, similar to the role Ma’a Nonu fulfilled for many years.
I like the addition of Samipeni Finau into the loose forward mix, a genuine No.6 who can bring the sort of ballcarrying dominance the All Blacks want at blindside, while also impacting the breakdown.
Luke Jacobson will likely get the first crack there against the Pumas, but Finau has it all in front of him to be a mainstay in this All Blacks side.
If Ethan Blackadder can get back to full fitness, he should be seen as a genuine chance of bolting into the World Cup squad, but for now, it’s advantage Finau.
At the other end of the stick, you’d have to think that’s curtains for the All Black careers of Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu. Both have already had a plethora of international chances and neither did anything during the Super Rugby season to suggest they should be anywhere near the plane heading to France.
Ioane will get one last chance to make his case, via the All Blacks XV, but Sotutu hasn’t even been afforded that, which tells you he isn’t seen as one of the top 12 loose forwards in the country. That is quite a rapid decline for Sotutu.
With a squad that includes five uncapped players and plenty of room for movement, the Rugby Championship shapes as a true litmus test for several players, before Foster narrows that squad down to 33 for the Rugby World Cup.
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter
