Axe looms for five All Blacks

The All Blacks’ heartbreak hotel will have five new guests in one week’s time. It has almost slipped under the radar – the arrival of the Springboks tends to focus the mind on the here and now – but the All Blacks will cut their 39-man squad down to 34 names after this weekend’s test to prepare for the Bledisloe tests.

The Rugby World Cup door will not be shut on the discards entirely but the grim reality is that the test against Argentina may have sealed the fate of a few of them.

Will Vaea Fifita look back at his lack of impact with regret? Will Liam Coltman curse those late underthrows at the lineout?

That pair will come under the microscope because they are in position where some cutting will need to be done.

The All Blacks chose four hookers and eight loose forwards in their original 39-man squad to face Argentina and South Africa.

Seven props were also picked – only five will go to the Rugby World Cup – so in all likelihood it is among the forwards where most of the heartache is coming after the Springboks test.

Perhaps four will be excised from this group, with one back to join them.

Fifita’s lack of impact against Argentina was in stark contrast to newcomer Luke Jacobson, who tore into his defensive work during the final quarter like a happy pig in the muddy stuff.

There will be another cull before the 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup is named but, on the back of a standout Super

Rugby campaign, Jacobson should have done enough to be included in the Bledisloe series – at the very least.

Like Fifita, Patrick Tuipulotu was another who didn’t quite hit the mark but Scott Barrett’s injury might give him a stay of execution.

Highlanders hooker Coltman will be nervous. Hansen is on record as being a big fan of youngster Asafo Aumua and may feel Coltman’s vulnerability at lineout time is as much a risk as Aumua’s age.

Among the props the All Blacks will surely wait until this weekend’s game to make a call.

Karl Tu’inukuafe needs to be tested because Ofa Tuungafasi can quite clearly be the No 2 loosehead while Nepo Laulala probably needs a decent shift to remind the All Blacks that his strength is more valuable in the big games than Angus Ta’avao’s superior mobility.

At present, little separates the big men.

In the backline some might say the call not to use Josh Ioane last weekend makes him a prime candidate for the first chop.

However, that tactical decision makes more sense if the plan all along has been to be retain him for the Bledisloe series, perhaps with a view to using him in the second test at Eden Park.

If that’s the case, the crosshairs could shift to one of the listed utility backs, Jordie Barrett and Braydon Ennor.

Ennor, like Moli, might find this a Rugby World Cup cycle too early, while Ta’avao, Fifita and Coltman could need an injury or two to keep their hopes alive. After the excitement of the Springboks game dies down, the worst part of the season is coming for five unlucky souls.