Confirmation that two of rugby's biggest stars, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, are to stay with New Zealand has given the All Blacks new heart going into tomorrow's Test against England.
McCaw and Carter have this week both re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union through until the 2011 World Cup.
Carter's signing was announced yesterday to brighten the mood in the All Blacks camp after Mils Muliaina pulled up in training with a hamstring injury.
Paul Williams, son of legendary winger Brian Williams, has been drafted into the training squad although Muliaina remained on the team sheet and officials were confident he would start against England.
The All Blacks, who have retained only half the squad that crashed out of last year's World Cup, started their rebuilding phase with a 20-11 win over Ireland last week.
They will have to step up a notch against England, but giant England prop Andrew Sheridan is not buying into the theory that the player exodus has made the All Blacks less intimidating.
"They always seem to be able to bring in players of equal quality," said Sheridan, the sole survivor of the starting line-up that lost the World Cup final 6-15 to South Africa.
Despite England's huge turnover of players, the only three uncapped players in the Test squad are wing Topsy Ojo, reserve scrumhalf Danny Care and reserve hooker David Paice.
Stand-in England coach Rob Andrew said selecting the side was a balance between wanting to beat the All Blacks and needing to find new players ahead of the next World Cup.
"We've got a group of players that need to start on that journey," he said. "The majority of the players here will be around in three years' time. A lot of selections for the trip were made on that basis."
The All Blacks also have an eye already on the World Cup in 2011, and backs coach Wayne Smith said having Carter and McCaw commit to the side now meant they could start building a squad around them.
"If you consider the sort of money they would be getting offered overseas, for them to make a commitment like this shows they are very clear in their purpose," he said.
"It will cost them a lot of money to make that decision. But they are doing it because they love it and feel a responsibility and passion for what they are doing."