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Wellington - The All Blacks will not allow emotion to cloud selection decisions as they seek to gain momentum heading into the Rugby World Cup's knockout stages, assistant coach Wayne Smith said on Tuesday.
Veteran fullback Mils Muliaina sits on 98 Test caps and would be the sentimental favourite to start in New Zealand's final pool match against Canada on Sunday, edging the 31-year-old closer to his Test century.
Smith said Muliaina was available for the match in Wellington but his inclusion would be decided on merit, not the possibility of achieving career milestones.
He said that while Muliaina, winger Zac Guildford and loose forward Kieran Read were all desperate to play for the first time at this year's tournament, the needs of the team came first.
"We're very conscious of the fact that we've got some keen players who want to be part of the contest but we've got to put team first and do what's right there as well," Smith told reporters.
He insisted New Zealand could not afford to relax after last weekend's 37-17 win over France, saying the Canada match was a chance to rectify some "patchy" areas of play against Les Bleus.
"This is an opportunity to build momentum," he said. "Yes (France) was a good win but we were patchy.
"We've got some areas we really need to improve in and we've looked at those in the last couple of days and we've got to get those right this week."
Read appeared confident of making his debut at this year's tournament after an ankle injury sustained during the Tri-Nations competition kept him out of the early games.
"The ankle's great, I'm available for selection for this week, so I'll be training fully with the guys which is pretty pleasing," he said.
"I can't wait. It's obviously been pretty tough watching but pretty exciting as well watching the boys go... I want to get out there and add my bit."
Smith said he expected a tough challenge from Canada, who were surprise victors over Tonga, and repeated the team's mantra that "no one is looking too far ahead" to a likely quarter-final against Argentina.
He admitted he had been impressed with the skills that rugby's so-called 'minnow' nations had displayed at this year's tournament, saying they no longer adopted a 'kick and hope' approach.
"Canada definitely have sequences off their set pieces that are well structured and well played," he said.
"They're not going to roll over, I can guarantee that."
