The next World Cup in Japan had its logo revealed this week and plans are now starting to take shape for the first tournament of its kind in Asia. But what will the All Black team look like in 2019. How many of the current mob will be there? Will Keven Mealamu's gold card work in Tokyo? Rugby writer Steve Hepburn has an educated guess at what the 2019 All Black starting side will look like.
Fullback
Ben Smith is the incumbent and in four years time will be 33.
Maybe a bit long in the tooth for another appearance but it could still happen.
The days of giving it up when the big 30 hits have long gone.
Israel Dagg will be 31 but he is on the downward slide and will have to put in the hard yards to get back into the picture.
With the first five-eighth cupboard very well stocked perhaps it is time for Damian McKenzie to move back to fullback?
Has electric pace, plenty of courage and can find space.
Other possibilities include Waikato youngsters Jordan Trainor and Shaun Stevenson and Mitch Hunt.
A wildcard could be Charles Piutau who is off to Ireland for a couple of years but is still young and could be in his prime come 2019.
Wingers
This time four years ago, Nehe Milner-Skudder had come out of a flirt with league and was trying to make an impression for Manawatu.
He has come a long way since then.
Can he last another four years?
Injuries and a diminishing speed could cut into his chances.
But he has that X-factor and that cannot be bought at the local dairy.
The same issues cloud Waisake Naholo.
Can he stay as quick and elusive as this year, when he was smoking hot for the Highlanders?
Julian Savea has signed until 2019 so will be well in the picture.
Others could be Tevita Li, James Lowe and Vince Aso.
Let's not forget the possibility of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck crossing codes.
Centre
Malakai Fekitoa looks set to move into the slot vacated by Conrad Smith.
Fekitoa has done little wrong when he has worn the All Black jersey.
Other candidates could be Blues men Rieko Ioane and TJ Faiane or the returning Rene Ranger.
Richard Buckman would not look out of place in the black jersey.
A roughie could be Matt Proctor.
Second five-eighth
The door is quite wide open for the No12 jersey. Much has been written about the talents of Anton Lienert-Brown, but is he going to get any better?
George Moala has been turned into a second five-eighth and looks impressive there.
Ryan Crotty has the versatility to play either spot in the midfield.
First five-eighth
It will most likely be Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga or Beauden Barrett.
Others in the race would be McKenzie, Canterbury youngster Ereatara Enari or Marty Banks.
Halfback
There are not a lot of top-quality halfbacks floating around and it is going to take a while for the holes to be filled.
TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are all young enough to be in contention in four years.
One of them will probably head overseas.
Northland's Sam Nock has the ability to go far, while Brad Weber has made big strides in the past couple of years.
No 8
Kieran Read turned 30 last week and may be in the knacker's yard in 2019. Victor Vito will slip off the radar.
Akira Ioane must be an even money bet to be wear the black No8 jersey sooner rather than later.
Ardia Savea can also play there.
Openside flanker
Sam Cane looks the man to take over from Richie McCaw.
He has all the skills and has already been groomed for a bigger role in the All Blacks.
Savea could be there. as could Mitch Karpik, and Matt Todd will not go away.
Blindside flanker
At 36 in 2019, and with those dodgy shoulders, Jerome Kaino will not see Japan.
There are plenty of other starters.
Brad Shields, Vito, Steven Luatua, Elliot Dixon, Joe Edwards, Luke Whitelock ... , the list goes on and on.
Sometimes it is hard for anyone to put their head above the crowd. Ioane will be in the team somewhere.
Locks
Time is on the side of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
Backing them up should be Patrick Tuipulotu.
Other candidates could be Tom Franklin and Scott Barrett.
Props
Props take a while to mature.
Joe Moody should be still around.
Will Owen Franks make it to a third World Cup?
He will be only 31.
Mentally it could be a tough trip and there is the lure of big dosh offshore.
There are plenty of promising props but they can be hard to pick, as some rise and others fall off the pace quite quickly.
Charlie Faumuina will still be around.
The Tu'ungafashi brothers from Auckland may be in the picture.
The two men from Wellington - Jeffery Toomaga - Allen and Reggie Goodes - are good players.
Hooker
Dane Coles should still be the man, but who backs him up is a mystery.
Hookers tend to fade away pretty quickly and have a window of a couple of years to make an impact.
Liam Coltman will be 29 and, if he can play like he has this season, will be hard to ignore.
Codie Taylor may be in the picture but one hopes he actually shows his ability, as most still have not seen any of it for any length of time.
In 2011, Steve Hepburn managed to pick in his 2015 team four players who actually made the 2015 team - Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks.
No mention will be made of the selection of Jason Woodward and Hika Elliot.
2019 World Cup
All Black team
15 Damian McKenzie
14 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
13 Malakai Fekitoa
12 Ryan Crotty
11 Julian Savea
10 Aaron Cruden
9 Aaron Smith
8 Ardie Savea
7 Sam Cane (captain)
6 Akira Ioane
5 Sam Whitelock
4 Brodie Retallick
3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
2 Dane Coles
1 Joe Moody