ALL OVER? Why is everyone prematurely penning the rugby requiem of Mils Muliaina?

Israel Dagg is poised to secure the All Blacks' fullback jersey against France as Graham Henry finally acknowledges time and form have conspired against Mils Muliaina.

Any sentiment coach Henry has for Muliaina must be now be erased as he settles on his top starting XV for the final two World Cup pool matches and the outcome is expected to be grim for the 31-year-old test veteran when the team is released tomorrow.

With the evidence to select Dagg, 23, now bordering on the overwhelming, Henry can no longer ignore the facts, a fortnight before the sudden-death stages.

Dagg's recent form has been compelling in comparison to Muliaina's lacklustre performances, and when a hamstring complaint forced the latter to withdraw from the weekend's test against Japan, he lost a vital opportunity to show Henry he had not lost his edge.

Henry will now acknowledge Muliaina's chances have diminished and if Dagg, who has recovered from his abdominal strain, performs at Eden Park he will clearly be considered the top fullback for the match against Canada and the quarterfinal.

Making Henry's decision to cull Muliaina, 31, even harder is that they have a long relationship that began when the former Kelston Boys' High School headmaster recruited him from Invercargill to play for his first XV in the late 1990s.

That Muliaina is entrenched on 98 tests is another complication; Henry will feel one of his most loyal servants deserves to crack the century before leaving for Japan but being unable to qualify for the bench means that milestone is in serious jeopardy.

While dumping Muliaina for Dagg, who has amassed just eight tests, will be difficult, it can be offset by having old heads such as Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith in the backline.

The other contentious position for Henry is at halfback.

Unlike lock, where Sam Whitelock is expected to surge past Ali Williams in linking with Brad Thorn in the second row, Henry may still be pondering his starting No 9.

Jimmy Cowan's form has tumbled in recent tests and there is now a real chance Piri Weepu will start and Andy Ellis will be a bench option.

Ellis confirmed that Muliaina, Dagg and skipper Richie McCaw completed yesterday's training despite the minor injuries that forced them out of the Japan test.

He also noted that Carter, who was also a late withdrawal last week because of a back complaint, only took a limited part in a practice dominated by defence drills.

"He was sort of in and out, running the show but not getting involved fully. He is just slowly keeping an eye on things to make sure he will be 100 (per cent fit) for the weekend.''

Having recovered from his sore calf, McCaw should now bring up his 100th test at Eden Park which will result in Adam Thomson shifting back to No 8 in the absence of Kieran Read who has yet to play in the tournament because of an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Read was in bullish mood about playing Canada next weekend providing he can survive the week's training in Wellington.

"I am running on it, doing a bit of scrum work and wrestling. I haven't worked up to full pace, I am running straight lines and also doing a bit of easy stepping.''