By Bryn Palmer

Henry's rotation policy has increased the depth of his squad

Former All Blacks fly-half Andrew Mehrtens believes Graham Henry must give his top side more time together if they are to win next year's World Cup.

Henry has repeatedly rotated his team over the past year, with 12 changes for Saturday's Test against South Africa.

"The players are improving individually but it has been difficult for them with all the changes," Mehrtens said.

"I would like to see them focusing on their top 15 at some point so they get the combinations to click as a team."

New Zealand wrapped up the Tri-Nations title with two games to spare, giving Henry and his fellow coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith the luxury of handing other players a chance to state their case.

Next year I think they need to give them as much time as possible together Andrew Mehrtens

"They can tick a lot of boxes in terms of developing players, skills-wise and composure-wise, to be at the level to play international rugby," Mehrtens told BBC Sport.

"They have a much larger group of guys who have experienced that pressure and intensity and are more comfortable with it.

"Individually, you look at the players and I think they have all come on, and the more time they spend with the three coaches they have now, the more they will learn.

"I still think they are not quite clicking as a team, but we are a year out from the World Cup and they don't need to be yet; there is plenty of time to do that.

Mehrtens has observed the All Blacks from afar this year

"But next year I think they need to give them as much time as possible together.

"For individual skills, passion, speed and power, you can't fault them. But when those combinations are entrenched they will be able to construct team tries, rather than relying on individual brilliance.

"That is the point they are at, which is great, and I think they are in good shape. They have got a string of results together, but teams will want to knock them off their perch now."

Mehrtens, 33, won the last of his 70 caps two years ago, when Henry recalled him to the squad after a two-year absence.

If I was playing, and they wanted me, I would probably think about it Andrew Mehrtens

As he prepares to start his second season with English side Harlequins, he insists he does not miss the Test arena, and that a return to the fold, in the event of an injury crisis, "hasn't even occurred to me".

But if the likes of star fly-half Daniel Carter and Luke McAlister were both incapacitated, Mehrtens admits he might find an initiation hard to resist.

"Everyone wants to play at the highest level they can and if four New Zealand fly-halves fell over, I was playing well, and they wanted me...I would probably think about it," he said.

"If they rang up and said 'will you play?', my first thought would probably be 'yes!'

"But it is certainly nothing that comes into my thinking. I will be going to see the boys when they are over in November though to get some match tickets!"