All Blacks: Slade set to make grade for injured Jane

The topsy-turvy world of Colin Slade is expected to turn in yet another unexpected direction with the last-minute hero of the Bledisloe Cup likely to be called up by the All Blacks to replace the injured Cory Jane.

Slade, who played superbly for the Barbarians at Twickenham over the weekend, was always scheduled to stay in London until the All Blacks arrived from Chicago.

The All Black coaches wanted to keep him - and other New Zealanders - in the English capital in case Soldier Field took casualties. More specifically, Slade was really an insurance because of the concerns that were lingering a week ago about Daniel Carter.

But Carter came through his 30 minutes in great shape.

Jane didn't, however, suffering a minor hamstring strain that will keep him out for at least two weeks, with a high probability of him damaging it again if he played against Wales in the final test of the tour. So Jane goes home and Slade, despite being a natural first-five, is likely to come in.

Slade has genuine utility value, being capable of playing wing and fullback.

Also in his favour is the form he's shown - playing well as he has in his test cameos this year.

All Black coach Steve Hansen is a big admirer of the character and tenacity Slade has shown over the years to overcome serious injury and of all the various players who missed out in this tour, telling the Crusaders utility he wasn't in the mix was the toughest. He is considered only a fraction behind Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden and Daniel Carter and the All Blacks would be willing to start him against England this week if they had to.

They might also have found it hard to have left Jane out of the team had his hamstring not pinged. In his respective 40 minutes against the Wallabies and USA, he showed those deft touches and electric pace that make him such a deadly finisher.

The veteran wing will inevitably feel anxious about his place in the outside back pecking order now that he's gone home.

But Hansen gave a strong indication Jane features highly in their thinking for next year.

"We know he's a world-class player and he's shown us that through the season at times," said the head coach.

"It is just a matter of him coming back and playing a good Super Rugby season and he will be a pretty hard man to leave out of the squad."

If finding a replacement for Jane was the easy part, the options at hooker aren't so clear cut.

As the All Blacks boarded their plane to London, Hansen was genuinely unsure about their plans on how to replace the injured Nathan Harris.

When they ran their apprenticeship scheme last year, it was Harris, Liam Coltman and Rhys Marshall who were called up.

Hurricanes hooker Motu Matu'u appeared to jump in the rankings this year as he was called in to train with the squad at various times.

But he's definitely not available due to a shoulder injury.

"We might have to go a bit deeper than we would like but sometimes when you are forced to go to the well you find a gem ... hopefully we can find one," he said.

"It is unfortunate for Nathan. He has worked really hard and was in a good place and we are going to miss out on giving him some time.

"We know through what he has been doing at training that he is on the right track."

With Dane Coles and Keven Mealamu in good shape and form, the new man at hooker may not see any game time.