The All Black coach Graham Hemnry says preparations for the 2011 rugby World Cup begin in earnest in five weeks when they head to the northern hemisphere for their end-of-season tour.
A day after the All Blacks ended a mediocre Tri-Nations campaign with a 33-6 home victory over Australia, Henry's focus shifted to the six-match tour with an eye to the World Cup in less than two years.
He says the tour's a chance for players to cement themselves into selectors's thinking for the World Cup .
Despite Saturday's winning margin, New Zealand had a patchy season by their standards, losing four games -- one to France and three to world champions South Africa,
Henry says the northern hemisphere tour is about bedding in new players from this seasion and giving them more test exposure rather than blooding new talent.
So most of the Tri Nations squad will go while several young players, who have taken the domestic provincial competition by storm, will have to prove themselves in Super 14before getting their chance.
