New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has targeted the All Blacks' Test against France in Paris next month a true gauge of their World Cup credentials.
The Tri-Nations champions return to Europe in November for four Tests, two against next year's World Cup hosts.
And having dispatched of England and thrashed Wales on their last northern hemisphere tour in 2005, McCaw sees Les Bleus as the next step.
He told the Sunday Star-Times: 'That Test in Paris will really show us where we are at in terms of the World Cup next year.
'So there are a few things we will be working towards for the cup which I won't mention now for obvious reasons. But one for the immediate future will be our finishing.
'We have had a heck of a lot of opportunities this year - especially in that last game - which were not capitalised on, and we're not that happy about that. It's been a bit of a trend we want to change.'
The All Blacks management name their 32-man squad for the tour after next week's Air New Zealand Cup final.
They play France in Paris and Lyon, and are entertained by England and Wales.
