Browsing through the Net, I found out just how desperate the All Blacks have become !

On the New Zealand web site, Stuff.co.nz, I found this gem of an Article:

Major changes are in the wind for the All Blacks with Isaia Toeava, Adam Thomson, Neemia Tialata, Cory Jane, Brendon Leonard and Hosea Gear all playing prominent roles in training in Wellington ahead of Saturday’s Tri-Nations wooden-spooner against the Wallabies.

Desperate times call for desperate measures and Graham Henry’s side does indeed find itself in a desperate situation after a third mauling form the Springboks left their season awkwardly balanced at four wins and four losses and a major challenge looming against a rejuvenated Australian side.

The Tri-Nations title is gone and it’s all about avoiding a bottom-placed finish.

The All Blacks will require one certain change with left wing Sitiveni Sivivatu ruled out with injury and Jane looking a certain starter there.

But the fallout to the inadequate effort against the Springboks seems certain to run deeper than that.

The failed midfield experiment in playing Dan Carter and Stephen Donald in switching roles at second five-eighths will be abandoned.

Ma’a Nonu will move back to second five-eighths and Toeava, on the back of a promising half hour against the Boks, will get another starting chance at centre.

Nonu and Toeava were a constant combination amidst various partnerships when the All Blacks hit the training paddock in Wellington on Tuesday to try to sort out their options.

The coaching staff have delayed the naming of their team for 24 hours to further mull over their options. The side will now be named on Wednesday afternoon.

Joe Rokocoko’s place on the right wing appears vulnerable with Gear getting some time there at practice.

Rokocoko has had a struggling season and another mistake under a high ball last weekend led to South Africa’s first half try.

Gear has been a try-scoring menace all season for Wellington and if ever there was a chance to pick on form this appears to be it on his home ground.

Leonard shared the halfback duties with Cowan at training in a fairly even split. Leonard has hardly had a sniff since he made a disappointing return to the test scene in the loss in Bloemfontein.

Cowan has been a typically abrasive presence but has offered little variety with his running game having disappeared.

There could be changes up front with Thomson looking likely to get a start at his preferred blindside flanker’s role where Jerome Kaino has been patchy.

And as the forwards worked their way through numerous front row options it seemed that Tialata could be in line for a surprising callup at tighthead.