All Blacks: Slade ready to take the reins

Colin Slade. Photo / Getty Images

The video that's played every 30 minutes on the ceiling of the giant rugby ball at Auckland's Party HQ features Dan Carter taking a kick at goal.

He appears as a larger-than-life image and his spectre still hangs over this World Cup, despite his absence forced by a serious groin injury picked up, coincidentally, while taking a kick at goal. After a week of wailing and grieving, attention now focuses on whether Colin Slade can somehow guide the All Blacks to a first World Cup in 24 years.

Slade is a decent footballer - he will become an even better one in time - but general consensus is this is not his time and he has been patchy in his appearances at the World Cup so far. The 23-year-old said on the eve of the tournament he wanted to learn off Carter and that he was happy enough being the backup No 10. Now he is, as one writer put it, The Man.

He might have avoided reading papers or listening to what people say about him but he's aware of the pressure he's under leading into Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina. Importantly, he's trying not to heap too much more on himself.

It's what Carter has emphasised to him as well.

"My role hasn't changed a lot in the team,'' Slade said. "I'm not expected to take over the leadership DC had off the field. That's for other guys to pick up. My job is to lead the team on the field. Knowing I'm going to start makes it a little easier to prepare for.

"I'm a young guy but I'm pretty enthusiastic about it and excited about the opportunity. I'm going out there to be me. I'm not going out there to be DC. I'm going to play my game and lead the team the best way I know how.

"It's an opportunity and one I have to think positively about. I can't be in any way burdened about it because I need to be excited about it and I'm really looking forward to it. It's an opportunity and one I certainly didn't think I would have, and I don't think anyone else would either. It's what every young fella dreams of, playing in a World Cup and to get an opportunity, albeit because of DC's injury.''

Sunday will be his ninth test. He's an infant in world rugby these days - Carter has played 85 - but is helped by the fact he has plenty of experience around him. If he chooses to cast his eye around the field he will see halfback Piri Weepu (53 tests) and Ma'a Nonu (63) standing beside him. Also on the park will be Conrad Smith (52), Keven Mealamu (89), Tony Woodcock (80) and Brad Thorn (56). Then there's Richie McCaw (100) and Mils Muliaina (99).

Slade takes comfort from that.

"It's massive [knowing they are there],'' he said. "It's a big occasion and it makes my job a lot easier knowing I have guys with that experience alongside me on the field. It's made me calm down. I realise they will help me out and do what's best for the team.''