New All Blacks coach John Mitchell has promised there will be "casualties" as he looks to playing and coaching personnel ahead of the upcoming tour of Ireland, Scotland and Argentina.
Mitchell, who coached the Waikato Chiefs in this year's Super 12, wants to cut the tour squad down from 36 to as low as 30 and change the squad's "physical" profile.
Those casualties could include All Blacks captain Anton Oliver.
"Everything's up for grabs," Mitchell said. "And there will be changes and casualties."
One man who could be set for a return to the All Blacks party is former prop Richard Loe.
The man many Australian rugby fans love to hate, is highly regarded as a commentator and specialist front-row coach. Loe earned the ire of Australian supporters in 1992 when he smashed Paul Carozza's nose with his forearm after the Wallaby winger had scored a try at Ballymore.
Loe and Mitchell played many games together for Waikato, and Mitchell used Loe as a front-row adviser in his excellent debut season with the Chiefs in the Super 12 this year.
"He's very, very good at what he does," Mitchell said.