They are the linchpin of any team - the ones who can win or lose a game. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn continues our series on the All Black squad by looking at the halfbacks and first five-eighths.
Revenge, payback, a second chance. Call it whatever you want but the opportunity to have another go at something at which you have failed can drive some strong emotions.
Keeping those emotions in check and making sure they are channelled in the right way is now the challenge facing Dan Carter.
Carter had a forgettable tournament in 2007 in France. He got injured, never really found his form and was forced off with a bung calf against France in that quarterfinal.
A player who was supposed to dominate the tournament, Carter never got on to centre stage. He barely made it past the orchestra pit.
So this year is his chance to shine. His form this season has been impressive, and he produced a wonderful display against Australia at Eden Park last month.
His goalkicking is usually accurate, although he is not the biggest fan of kicking in windy Wellington.
Carter is the undisputed top dog, and trying to find his back-up after four years of searching has proven seriously difficult.
Colin Slade gets the deputy's job but that was more by default as his rivals - Stephen Donald, Aaron Cruden and Stephen Brett - simply did not perform up to the required standard.
Slade did not have to - he was out injured - and seemed to get better the longer he spent on the sideline.
The Highlanders man looks composed when on form but is a confidence player who will want to forget his last game against South Africa. Perhaps an easier run against Fiji or Canada may be what is required to help him.
Inside Carter, it is not as clear cut who should be starting the game.
Andy Ellis is the only one of the three halfbacks who went to the last World Cup but has been in and out of the team of late.
Jimmy Cowan has been the preferred starter over the bulk of the past four years and has done little wrong. His kicking is good as is his defence.
But Piri Weepu offers that X-factor and is a great reader of the game. When on form, he picks the right way to go and just plays what is in front of him.
But any more of that frustrating pointing and directing like a frustrated army colonel that he showed in Brisbane last month and he may find himself warming the bench.
CRITICAL ROLE PLAYERS
• Age: 29
• Test caps: 47
• Physical: 95kg, 1.82m
You know what you get with Cowan: grit, reliability and a solid pass. Has plenty of ticker and his kicking game is much improved.
• Age: 27
• Test caps: 49
• Physical: 96kg, 1.78m
On his game and playing on instinct there are few better. But when he starts being a traffic cop and taking the game to the extreme, he is a much lesser threat.
• Age: 27
• Test caps: 21
• Physical: 90kg, 1.82m
Handy Andy has a good pass and tends to pick the right option. But has looked slightly out of his depth at the top level and is not used to going backwards.
• Age: 29
• Test caps: 83
• Physical: 93kg, 1.78m
On form and getting enough ball, Carter can dictate the game. An accurate goalkicker, who has a running game few can match.
• Age: 22
• Test caps: 5
• Physical: 90kg, 1.83m
Injury has ruined much of his year but won the back-up spot to Carter after his rivals simply did not perform. Not yet proven at this level.
