Richard Loe: Slade should be back up first five

Colin Slade. Photo / Getty Images

It will be dead interesting watching the selectors' thinking as the rest of the Tri Nations and the All Blacks' end of year tour plays out.

Most intriguing will be the situation at first five-eighths, hooker and flanker. While we will all be watching to see how Aaron Cruden copes, there is still the unresolved question of back-up should Dan Carter be injured, as he is now.

The All Blacks will feel a little uncomfortable using Piri Weepu as back-up to Cruden. They have never shown any inclination to field him at first five and it's complicated by the fact that Weepu is the senior goalkicker.

If they play him off the bench, Cruden has to kick for goal - something he's been practising hard on I hear. He needed to. His goalkicking was nowhere near the Carter class.

But, even if he starts at halfback, Weepu will likely only last an hour or so before being replaced.

I think the answer is Colin Slade for the remainder of the series and for the end of year tour. I like his play and his style and he's done the right thing in moving to the Highlanders.

His previous chance at the All Blacks was as a kind of first five-fullback, utility but the selection and form of Israel Dagg has closed that door. He knows now he has to focus on the 10 jersey - and to get game time there.

I'd have to have a pacemaker fitted if Stephen Donald came back from injury and got the job. As I have said many times, I do not think he is up to the job at that level, good player though he is. Same goes for Luke McAlister as a 10 - I hear talk he could be the back-up.

I can see Slade on the bench for the rest of the Tri Nations and maybe on the end of year tour. I can see him coming on as a sub with Jimmy Cowan if Weepu and Cruden start.

Whatever happens, I'd bet the sheep that the selectors will keep their options open til the end when it comes to World Cup selection - they'll have three first fives, three hookers and halfbacks and all that.

At hooker, I think if John Afoa was really going to be a serious prospect at hooker, then he'd at least be playing there for Auckland.

I know he will be tempting for the World Cup because he covers all three front row positions, but he's hardly played hooker at all and you'd have to say Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore and Corey Flynn all have better claims. I have also watched Aled de Malmanche and Dane Coles play this season - and think they are both well off the pace.

However, Hore is still coming back from that bad shoulder injury and it may be that he misses the tour altogether - giving Afoa something of a chance.

As for Richie McCaw's replacement at flanker, well, "replacement" is a poor word, isn't it? We'll never replace him.

For my money, though, Adam Thomson looks the most likely. He has got the same range of skills, and don't let anyone tell you that turnover ball is not part of the game for a No7 anymore. McCaw still does it superbly and Thomson can be a ball-carrier, a link man and a defender if he works on parts of his game.

He's way ahead, in my opinion, of Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam and Daniel Braid - the latter has done a good job for Queensland and Auckland but may not be quite there when it comes to the All Blacks.