During the off season, the New Zealand All Blacks serve food in the Waitakere Hub. The customers get to interact with the players.

First it was Richard Kahui and now it's Adam Thomson leaving the All Blacks by choice. Although Coach Steve Hansen was annoyed not to get a heads-up by Kahui about his move, the exits of both men does give him time to find replacements.

Conrad Smith is running around once more but will be 32 towards the end of the year and has decided to bypass that All Black trip. Another midfield back, Tamati Ellison, has undergone shoulder surgery and is out for the game for some months. Liam Messam is the incumbent test blindside flanker and was a key member in the Chiefs' success last season.

Ben Smith may be the man for the number 13 jersey but it would help if he played there for the Highlanders and became used to the partnership with Ma'a Nonu. If powerhouses Rene Ranger and Robbie Fruean sort out their impact and consistent defense, they must swing into the limelight. There will be theories too that Nonu could play center if the selectors are tempted again by a twin five-eighths scheme with Daniel Carter moving into the number 12 jersey.

Richie McCaw, the 116 times capped All Black captain, plans to return to the test stage after his time out. If Sam Cane has played his ears off as an open side against France and there have been mixed blindside displays, the selectors will dust off their twin flanker dossier. McCaw fits the physical bill for blindside. He is a brutal defender with a massive work rate, strong over the ball without being the most fluent in possession. His sabbatical and player developments could persuade McCaw and the selectors this is a great time for a rethink and new direction in the push to the 2015 World Cup.

The All Blacks will begin their defense of their Rugby Championship crown against Australia in Sydney on August 17, 2013. World Cup-winning New Zealand will then host the Wallabies in Wellington before facing Argentina in Hamilton and South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland.

They finish their campaign on the road, firstly taking on Argentina before moving on to Johannesburg to face the Springboks on October 5, 2013.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is the New Zealand celebrity Kiwis would most want to sit down to lunch with. The online survey of more than 400 people found almost a third would like to have lunch with McCaw. Second choice was broadcaster Paul Henry, chosen by 23%, followed by former model Rachel Hunter on 21.8%, Prime Minister John Key on 15.7%, and reality TV stars Sally and Jaime Ridge on 7.4%.