Rugged Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder may be one of the unlucky ones to miss selection, when new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson names his first squad on Monday.
All Blacks greats John Kirwan, Mils Muliaina and Jeff Wilson have the 10-test veteran bracketed with a raft of other talented loose forwards, with Robertson embarrassed for riches in the positions he himself played for the national team.
Blackadder, 29, undoubtedly has the talent to command a place in the squad, but his body has repeatedly let him down, with his 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign again blighted by injury.
On Sky Sports' Breakdown, all three legends have Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson among their loose forward predictions, but have reservations over Blackadder.
"I have [Peter] Lakai or Blackadder, and I would probably go Lakai, simply because he's played the whole season and deserves it," said Kirwan. "We know Blackadder is good enough, but he just hasn't played enough."
Kirwan admits some selections will come down to the choice between replacing the experience that has left the team since last year's World Cup or developing youngsters for the next 2027 tournament.
Lakai enjoyed a breakout season with the tabletopping Hurricanes and clearly fits into the second category.
Muliaina and Wilson both agree with Kirwan.
"I think he [Blackadder] needs more gametime under his belt and he won't get that, if he's in the All Blacks, unless he's starting," said Muliaina.
"I don't have him in either," said Wilson. "Purely and simply, I like what I'm seeing outside of that group.
"I really like Jacobson. I think his leadership, his growth... he's continuing to prove he can play every single week.
"For me, Jacobson and Blackadder are like for like."
On the other hand, Blackadder is a player developed by Robertson through the Crusaders franchise and will have the trust of the new coach in his first major assignment against England next month.
The other big name missing among the loosies may be former captain Sam Cane, who has already indicated this will be his last season in international rugby.
His Japanese club season was shortened by injury and he also will need time to get his body back to match fitness, perhaps for Rugby Championship or the end-of-year northern tour, if he is to bring up his century of caps for the All Blacks.
