For most teams, losing players of the calibre of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Kevan Mealamu, Sonny Bill Williams, Liam Messam and Ben Franks would be a death knell. Teams don't usually recover from that - but that's the reality that back to back world champions are facing.
That's eight quality players, most of which would walk into any side in the world. Is that a problem for New Zealand? Not at all. Just look at the two sets of teams they could still trot out:
15. Ben Smith / Israel Dagg
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder / Waisake Naholo
13. Malakai Fekitoa / Rene Ranger
12. Ryan Crotty / Anton Lienert-Brown
11. Julian Savea / George Moala
10. Beauden Barrett / Aaron Cruden
9. Aaron Smith / TJ Perenara
1. Joe Moody / Wyatt Crockett
2. Dane Coles / Codie Taylor
3. Charlie Faumina / Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick / Luke Romano
5. Sam Whitelock / Patrick Tuipulotu
6. Jerome Kaino / Steven Luatua
7. Ardie Savea / Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read / Victor Vito
And that doesn't include talent like Damian McKenzie, Cory Jane, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, or Akira Ioane.
Bloody hell, let someone else play.
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Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
