All Blacks: Cruden poise will ease fears for selectors

Aaron Cruden had poise and confidence when he took the field against Argentina. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Aaron Cruden admitted to being overwhelmed when taking the field as Colin Slade's replacement in the quarter-final victory over Argentina last night but his assured performance will ease the selectors' fears after the curse of the groin injury struck again.

First Dan Carter, now Slade. Cruden's poise and confidence when taking the reins in front of an Eden Park crowd of almost 60,000 is grounds for optimism as the side prepares for a semifinal against the Wallabies.

Cruden, 21, was only brought into the squad last week following Carter's demise. Until then his preparation for World Cup knockout rugby had been a bit of gym work and some touch footy with his mates.

"I'd been in the gym but I hadn't done much running and the lungs were burning but the adrenaline just kicks in and you keep going,'' he said.

"Generally I was pretty happy [with game]. Running out there the crowd and everything was pretty overwhelming but the senior guys got behind me and told me to play my game and I think as the game went on I was able to do that a little bit more.''

It helped that he was playing outside the brilliant Piri Weepu, who steadied a ship that was in danger of running aground in the face of Argentina's muscularity and smothering defence.

After taking the field late in the first half, Cruden showed elusiveness with the ball and his passing was crisp and accurate. He went close to scoring a try in the corner in the second half following a kick-pass but was pushed into touch.

It was a performance in stark contrast to his last appearance for the All Blacks - the one-point victory over the Wallabies in Sydney 13 months ago. He started that match but looked overawed and even failed with the basics such as re-starts. In the end he was substituted for Slade.

Now though he is showing the benefits of being fully supported by the All Blacks squad, with Cruden revealing Carter has been offering advice.

"Dan has been around the hotel helping me and Colin out. He's just saying 'embrace it', we're in the team for a reason, we're good enough to be here and test ourselves against the best in the world.

"Throughout the week at training the boys have really got behind me and given me a lot of good feedback and helped me out in getting to know the structures again. When I went out there I was pretty nervous but I just knew I had a job to do.

"To be honest I don't think it has fully sunken in. A week ago I was sitting on the couch watching the games on TV and now I'm playing in them. I feel very blessed to be here.''

With Slade ruled out of the World Cup today, the selectors have a few tough decisions to make ahead of the Wallabies match at Eden Park on Sunday night.

They may want the benefit of experience and move Weepu to first-five and keep Cruden on the reserves bench. Either way, the fact that it's a hard decision is a testament to the Manawatu player's performance.