Smith's All Black roundabout

Cullen has been in scintillating form this season

The men wearing the black jersey of New Zealand this season can be forgiven for thinking they have stumbled into an episode of The Magic Roundabout such has been the revolving door policy of new coach Wayne Smith.

Heading into the Tri-Nations, Smith has used 27 players in just three matches as he has adopted a rotational policy akin to that employed by European football managers.

He says it is the key to having a number of players experienced at international level able to join the side at any time, but in doing so has put a number of players' and fans' noses out of joint.

They think Smith may be as potty as Zebedee in changing combinations and not allowing them to strike an understanding but so far the challenges of Tonga (102-0) and Scotland (69-20 and 48-14) have been defeated and summarily discarded.

Smith has not followed Hart's lead

In New Zealand rugby there's an oft-used saying that "You're only as good as your last game", indeed, full-back Christian Cullen has those words printed on the tongue of his boots.

But even those players who have performed on the field have found themselves dropped for the following match as Smith has sought to find his best combinations.

His policy follows the All Black mantra that players never own the black jersey, they just keeping it warm for the next person, such is the pressure they are under to constantly perform.

Smith's aim is to select players who are most suited to opposition they will encounter.

"We've got a horses-for-courses approach ...

"It's been a matter for all players to put their egos aside and accept it.

"We explain to them what we're doing and why we're doing it," Smith said.

Ron Cribb has impressed this season

His new broom has swept clean, discarding seasoned performers for a new breed of player eager to follow in the traditions of the jersey that the New Zealand public felt had been discarded.

A back to basics approach, a boarding school, making them realise in the rugby-mad country that they are, after all, just rugby players.

Smith is pragmatic enough to realise that his side has yet to be seriously tested so far this season and the true test of how far they have come will only come in the Tri-Nations.

He has adopted a more expansive style of play which has seen his side create more try-scoring opportunities than in the past but despite the success of the new regime, the former international is not getting carried away.

It's been a matter for all players to put their egos aside and accept it

  Wayne Smith

"I'm really happy we've worked on a new style. It's exciting. I think we are where we want to be.

"But we have to realistic that it will take some time to change what people have been doing for a number of years."

The full effects of Smith's new game plan and selection philosophy will only be borne out by results in the Tri-Nations and the players will be hoping they can stop their heads from spinning for long enough to post the results the country desires.