Rugby: World Cup dreams hinge on broken jaw, mark 2

Colin Slade. Photo / Getty Images

They did it first time around and the Highlanders will hope they can cope again after Colin Slade broke his jaw for the second time this season.

It's wretched luck for the 23-year-old, who was forced from the field in the fourth minute after a head clash in the 40-18 win over the Rebels on Friday night, but it has significant consequences for both the Highlanders and All Blacks. First five-eighths is a problem area for both sides.

Robbie Robinson directed traffic well when he came on but his goalkicking was poor and Slade had made a strong return a fortnight ago.

At least Lima Sopoaga, who started the season in the No 10 jersey before picking up a shoulder injury in the second-round victory over the Chiefs, played Dunedin club rugby yesterday while veteran Tony Brown has remained with the side since returning from Japan.

All are useful alternatives to Slade but don't possess the same class. Slade was seen as a key figure in their run to the playoffs but instead he was undergoing surgery in Melbourne yesterday and is expected to be out for the rest of the Super Rugby season.

"Who would have thought the team would have done so well without Colin Slade when he broke his jaw [first time]? Four million people didn't," said coach Jamie Joseph, clearly believing they would cope again.

Joseph doesn't have the depth and experience available most of the other teams in the top half of the competition do.That's a drain on players in a long competition.

He can't contemplate resting or rotating players as Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, who has 15 All Blacks at his disposal, and others on the verge of selection can do. It's also not in his nature, being of the Old School.

"Our lack of depth and experience means we can't be thinking about resting guys in week 11 or 12 of the competition," Joseph says. "The second half of the competition, it's a week-to-week thing for us.

"Guys have to earn selection. We are aware it gets harder from here. It would be nice to have experience and depth to move guys around a bit but we can't do that."

Joseph therefore has to be more creative in managing his squad, particularly with a run of games against the Crusaders (A), Blues (H), Chiefs (A), Hurricanes (H) looming. He was able to start Jimmy Cowan on the bench on Friday night but it's likely to be a one-off.

It's also hard to see where Adam Thomson and Jamie Mackintosh might get a break, or even Nasi Manu and Alando Soakai. All four are critical to the Highlanders.

"There's a perception we flog our guys in training so they train the way they play but it's been exaggerated. We can't do what some people think we are.

"We do other things, like give guys random days off which keeps them fresh. I'm not Todd Blackadder with 15 All Blacks."

Slade's injury jeopardises his chances of making the World Cup. Dan Carter's back-up is an area of considerable concern and no one has yet put forward a compelling case. It was hoped Slade, who impressed in his test debut against Australia last year, might have done that.

He will now have limited chances to impress. The All Blacks coaches could select him on reputation for the Tri Nations but it's difficult to see them doing that. And if he doesn't play in the Tri Nations, the World Cup is out.

He had more than a broken jaw on Friday night - he might well have broken dreams, too.