Carter signing creates crowd at first-five

BY RICHARD KNOWLER

Dan Carter's return to Canterbury has added extra spice to Colin Slade and Stephen Brett's battle for the province's No10 jersey during the Air New Zealand Cup.

With All Blacks first five-eighth Carter a certainty to be picked in the 2010 Crusaders squad after re-signing with Canterbury on Monday, Slade and Brett are now locked in a scrap to see who will operate as his backup and their form for Canterbury this season could determine where they are based for next year's Super 14.

Franchises are only allowed to protect up to 24 of their 28-man squads and although Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder could place all three first-fives under his umbrella, he then risks losing other key players to the draft.

Slade was picked as the preferred first-five for the Junior All Blacks recently, despite losing his grip on the Crusaders No 10 jersey to Brett after the opening four rounds of the Super 14.

Brett missed the squad but was picked as a replacement for Luke McAlister, who was rushed into the All Blacks to replace Richard Kahui.

Yesterday, Blackadder said it was too early to determine whether he would pick all three No10s and instead he will wait to see how they perform in the domestic competition.

"We have still got the Air New Zealand Cup competition to come, so we will wait and see then who will come into the selection mix," he said. "We will just work through it as it happens."

Although Slade and Brett are understood to be contracted to Canterbury until at least the end of next year, they are likely to draw plenty of attention from other provinces.

Auckland and the Blues failed in their audacious bid to sign Carter and Blues coach Pat Lam will now have to decide if he is happy to have McAlister and Daniel Bowden as his pivot options.

The Hurricanes are another franchise that needs a steady first-five after converting Piri Weepu to No10 this year before settling on Willie Ripia. The Highlanders are continuing to rebuild and may hope to pick a player from the draft.

The New Zealand Rugby Union cannot force unions to send players outside their regions, even if it would help sprinkle the talent around.

Both Slade and Brett have said they want to concentrate on first-five but Carter's return may force them to rethink those plans if they want to stay with Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Brett was used at fullback when Leon MacDonald was injured during the Super 14 and is a competent second-five. Slade was a revelation on the wing when he was switched from first-five and has played for Canterbury at fullback.

- © Fairfax NZ News