Colin Slade gets All Blacks call

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

Colin Slade is "the form" replacement for Dan Carter but All Blacks coach Graham Henry has confirmed Aaron Cruden would start against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Slade, the Canterbury utility who has settled into the red and black No 10 jersey so impressively this year, was confirmed in the All Blacks squad to travel to Sydney on Sunday for the final Tri-Nations test there on Septmber 11.

While the selectors had looked hard at North Harbour's Luke McAlister they believed Slade was the man for the backup job right now.

"He's the form five-eighth basically," Henry said of Slade, adding he believed the youngster was "the best player on the field" in Canterbury's demoliton of Auckland in Christchurch last Saturday night.

"He has been playing bloody well. Luke didn't play badly (against Bay of Plenty) and he played well against Otago the week before. But Luke is a 12 playing 10 and the other guy is an established five-eighths who is playing particularly well. So it came down to form in that particular position."

Henry said he was comfortable with Cruden taking on the playmaking responsibilities from the kickoff against Australia and it would be a major challenge for him.

Cruden has played just 61 minutes of test rugby this year but has worked hard behind the scenes soaking up everything he could from Carter and the All Blacks environment.

"In hindsight he probably should have played against Wales in Hamilton in that second test," Henry admitted about Cruden's slow introduction this year.

"But we went through a few negative times last year and we didn't want to risk anything. We were building the team again and that's the reason we didn't play him.

"This is a great opportunity for him. It's a big test match played away from home in Sydney and it's always been a difficult place for us to play.

"So the team is going to be under pressure and it's a good challenge for him."

Henry felt Cruden had played well on his return to Manawatu last weekend.

"He looked good, played with authority and looked like he was enjoying himself bossing people around. I think his time in the All Blacks has been really positive for him."

Henry confirmed there wouldn't be many changes from the side that produced the stunning comeback win against the Springboks in Soweto.

It was about completing the Tri-Nations job and the end of year tour would be the place to start sifting through the next tier of players.

The three coaches and some senior players would meet on Saturday to look at the team dynamics for Sydney.

Slade looks certain to get a place on the bench with cover needed at No 10.

He was drafted into the All Blacks squad as injury cover in 2009, has played for Canterbury and the Crusaders and appeared for the New Zealand Barbarians against the New Zealand Maori in the opening game of the New Zealand Maori Centenary Series in June.

Slade has been in sparkling form for Canterbury. He is able to play first five-eighths, wing and fullback but has grabbed the red and black No 10 jersey in this year's ITM Cup and his consistency of selection there has seen his level of performance respond accordingly.

His form hasn't gone unnoticed in other areas with new Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph persuading Slade to leave the Crusaders and head south for next season's Super 15 where he will be the team's playmaker.

Henry said Slade's move to the Highlanders was a "sensible choice"and one that had been ignored by other players in the past, creating a log-jam of talent in certain Super rugby sides which had inhibited development in some key areas for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks have already won both the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup but are keen to extend their 14-test winning streak in Sydney.

Carter is out of action following surgery to an ankle injury.

All Blacks Tri Nations squad for Sydney

Forwards: John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Victor Vito, Samuel Whitelock and Tony Woodcock.

Backs: Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Rene Ranger, Josevata Rokocoko, Colin Slade, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley and Piri Weepu.

- © Fairfax NZ News