Steve Hansen

Fiji born winger, Sevu Reece is likely to get a place in the team after his performance in the second Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.

Other players that are likely to be selected for the defending champions are Keiran Read, Beauden Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga and Jack Goodhue.

The All Blacks are looking to win three World Cup titles in a row and their fourth overall.

The All Blacks, who name their 31-man World Cup squad next week play Tonga in Hamilton on September 7th before facing South Africa in their opening Pool B clash two weeks later.

Hansen said he was wary of his first-choice players losing sharpness between last weekend's 36-0 victory over Australia at Eden Park and their World Cup opener.

"We'd like probably most of the frontliners to get some form of game-time in the Tonga game, otherwise it's too big a break before we play South Africa," Hansen said in comments published by Stuff Media.

A South African supporter spotted All Blacks fullback Barrett nudging the ball with his foot while referee Nic Berry had his back turned during the 16-all draw in the Cake Tin last weekend, and posted TV footage of the incident on social media.

Feedback from fans online didn't lack heat.

He said whoever replaced him would bring a new perspective.

"Some fresh eyes, some fresh thinking ... whoever it is will be fresh. It will be for the enhancement of the legacy of the jersey," he said.

Hansen comes off contract with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) after the tournament, which runs next September and October.

He has been Head Coach of the All Blacks since 2012 and prior to that was an Assistant Coach for eight years.

Hansen told media this morning two big reasons for making the choice were what was right for the team, and what was right for his family.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Test against Italy in Rome, Hansen hit out at reports suggesting the 33-year-old loose forward may no longer be good enough for the test arena.

"Some of those articles are ridiculous and been written by people that have never been in our environment, we've never seen them at a rugby game. He's going well. He's in the best shape he's been all year," Hansen said of Read, who had back surgery earlier this year.

"He's had some tough moments during the course of the year, which I think have been great for him.

The All Blacks face England for the first time in four years this weekend at a sold-out Twickenham.

Hansen has further raised expectations for the highly-anticipated clash by declaring it bigger than last year's British and Irish Lions tour.

While the 59-year-old would be open to the idea of more regular meetings between the two countries, he has concerns about the knock-on effect.

"As long as it doesn't create more logjams in the calendar," replied Hansen, when asked if he would like to face England more often.

The All Blacks thumped Australia 37-20 in Yokohama on Saturday to complete a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup whitewash, but Hansen warned that players will continue to risk injury unless they get enough rest.

"They don't get enough of a break," he said on Sunday.

"You can't keep going round and round and round without running out of petrol  -- at some stage you've got to recharge the tank."

New Zealand face 2019 World Cup hosts Japan in Tokyo next weekend before completing their five-match tour against England, Ireland and Italy.

Hansen was responding to comments from former All Black Lima Sopoaga, now playing in England, who says the money on offer overseas will soon outweigh the lure of the All Blacks' jersey.

Hansen doesn't entirely agree, and says New Zealand Rugby isn't at tipping point yet, but insists the current financial model isn't sustainable. He believes if the government and New Zealanders want the All Blacks to remain the best, they would be wise to invest.

The All Blacks became the first team to win back to back World Cups in 2015, cementing their place on World Rugby's throne.

The All Blacks' selection panel, which comprises Ian Foster, Grant Fox and Hansen, will on Monday confirm their 37-man squad to tour the northern hemisphere and although a number of players' reputations were dented at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night there will be no immediate repercussions.

"I probably could have told you the touring squad before tonight, and it hasn't changed," Hansen said as he ruminated on the end of the All Blacks' seven-match winning streak against the Aussies on the soggy Suncorp pitch.

Despite making 23 tackles in the All Blacks' 25-24 win over the Springboks in Cape Town on October 8, Williams has been blitzed by some critics who believe he has lost the ability to tickle-up opponents with the attacking skills that made him such a unique force at second five-eighth.

When All Blacks coach Hansen, having arrived in Brisbane on Monday night to prepare his team for the match against the Wallabies this weekend, was asked to provide an assessment of Williams' form he let rip.