The All Blacks have arrived at Colin Slade as a backup No10 not through careful selection and considered talent development, but through a process of attritional trial by fire and acrimonious public failure.
Since the 2007 World Cup, Stephen Donald, Aaron Cruden, Mike Delaney and Luke McAlister have all fumbledabout in the long shadow of Daniel Carter. The gaps in their games have appeared stark in comparison with the full portfolio of the planet's premier No10. Now it's Slade's turn.
Nonetheless, there are high hopes for the man who went to the Highlanders to prove himself capable of running games.
Slade is a product of the Christchurch Boys' High School factory of first five-eighths, and his advocates say he has a bit of Andrew Mehrtens about him. He has mucked in at fullback where he is excellent under the high ball, and his goalkicking is reliable. Through age-group rugby he was regarded as a smart runner comfortable handling big games.
His move to the Highlanders was keenly anticipated with fans hoping to see assured displays from the man seemingly always destined for the All Blacks' bench. Successive jaw breaks put paid to that but, with his return from injury, Slade was straight into the All Black squad.
Worryingly, the one major test Slade has started at first five-eighths ended in defeat to the Springboks at Port Elizabeth. He was so unconvincing that Piri Weepu was being spoken of as a genuine No10 backup.
Position: First five-eighths Tests: 5 Born: 10 Oct, 1987, in Christchurch Stats: 1.83m, 90kg
