All Blacks: Slade gets nod as Carter's deputy

Graham Henry and Steve Hansen say an abundance of quality options made settling no a back three incredibly challenging. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Finally the anointment came, the answer to the question which has fascinated rugby followers all year - Colin Slade would be the backup All Black five-eighth.

The one-test All Black had eased into the Tri-Nations squad as deputy to Daniel Carter and if his form and twice-broken jaw holds, must have the inside running for the World Cup.

"He adds a different dimension but we pondered that selection for a while because he has not played as much as we wanted," assistant coach Wayne Smith said.

Slade's backfield play, work under the high ball and counter-attack had all been strong parts of his selection claims. There have also been favourable reports about his leadership.

Another on the cusp of the World Cup is lock Jarrad Hoeata, the only new cap in a straightforward 30-strong squad which includes several injured players and a standby posse.

The 27-year-old's elevation may be due to the injury absence of Blues lock Anthony Boric but no one was saying, while teammate Ali Williams has been restored after several seasons lost to Achilles' tendon and shoulder injuries.

Israel Dagg, Hosea Gear, Isaia Toeava and Tony Woodcock are at varying stages of recovery from injury so Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wyatt Crockett will assemble with the team this week as cover.

Coach Graham Henry made special mention of Hoeata and Williams during the announcement of the squad yesterday at the North Shore Rugby Club.

He also mentioned two who had missed the cut, longtime wing Joe Rokocoko and lock Tom Donnelly. They were perhaps the highest profile casualties Henry contacted over the weekend.

It was an unpleasant part of the job. But Rokocoko had taken his omission with great character and passed on his best wishes and luck to those who had made the cut.

Jane and Sivivatu had not played well enough this year but would get a chance to re-impress because of injuries while Smith and Crockett had played extra well but had been squeezed out by the depth of candidates.

"We have got to make sure we are ahead of the pack," said Henry of this year's test programme.

"We have done well in recent times but we have got to develop some subtleties in our game which we did not have in 2010.

"So if we don't improve we will be run over by other very good teams."

There had been no late tinkering with the squad after the Super 15 final and they were confident the injured quartet (Dagg, Gear, Toeava and Woodcock) would play some part in the Tri-Nations after maybe starting in the ITM Cup.

Those reclaiming places after injury or form loss last season include Williams, Corey Flynn, Richard Kahui, Piri Weepu, Zac Guildford, Ben Franks, Adam Thomson and Slade.

The five-eighth came on and played well as a sub in his solitary test against the Wallabies last year in Sydney but was then bypassed for the end of year tour.

"Now we have to see it on the track from Colin [Slade], he gets first crack at it and he'll know he has got to perform," Smith said.

"Five-eighths was an area we put a lot of selection effort into while the back three was an area of riches which extends you in trying to get the right mix.

"This is a squad for Fiji and the Tri-Nations, there is still an opportunity for players to put their hand up."

Slade was on a managed fitness plan after two broken jaws this season and a groin injury. He starts kicking this week.

"The hope is that he will be ready to play a test match against Fiji in two weeks."

Before the season started the All Black panel liked what they saw from Slade in organising work at the Highlanders.

Jane looked cluttered and needed to clear his mind to free up his strong rugby game while Sivivatu had to rediscover his repeat speed.

ALL BLACKS SQUAD

Backs
Mils Muliaina (Waikato, 94 caps)
Israel Dagg (Hawkes Bay, 6)
Hosea Gear (Wellington, 6)
Zac Guildford (Hawkes Bay, 4)
Isaia Toeava (Auckland, 30)
Conrad Smith (Wellington, 45)
Richard Kahui (Waikato, 11)
Sonny Bill Williams (Canterbury, 4)
Ma'a Nonu (Wellington, 56)
Dan Carter (Canterbury, 79)
Colin Slade (Canterbury, 1)
Jimmy Cowan (Otago, 44)
Andy Ellis (Canterbury, 18)
Piri Weepu (Wellington, 44)

Forwards
Kieran Read (Canterbury, 30)
Liam Messam (Waikato, 6)
Richie McCaw (c, Canterbury, 94)
Adam Thomson (Otago, 17)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland, 37)
Sam Whitelock (Canterbury, 13)
Brad Thorn (Canterbury, 50)
Ali Williams (Auckland, 61)
Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki, 0)
Ben Franks (Tasman, 7)
Tony Woodcock (Nth Harbour, 74)
Owen Franks (Canterbury, 22)
John Afoa (Auckland, 30)
Keven Mealamu (Auckland, 83)
Andrew Hore (Taranaki, 50)
Corey Flynn (Canterbury, 12)

Injury cover
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)
Cory Jane (Wellington)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)
Ben Smith (Otago)