The All Blacks won't be using their final pool game against Canada in Wellington on Sunday, to simply give those who haven't yet played at the World Cup a run, says assistant coach Wayne Smith.
Three players - Kieran Read, Mils Muliaina and Zac Guildford - are yet to take the field with injury having held back Read and Muliaina.
Read hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury in the Tri-Nations loss to Australia but has declared himself fit and available to play Canada on Sunday.
Muliaina was picked to play against Japan but withdrew with a hamstring strain while Guildford is yet to get the selectors' nod - but Smith says the priority is not to give everybody a run but rather to improve on the weekend's win over France.