All Blacks: Cruden backs under-fire Slade

Backup first-five Colin Slade. Photo / Greg Bowker

Under-fire All Blacks back-up first-five Colin Slade has received support from the most unlikely of people.

Slade's performance against Japan has come under heavy scrutiny but Aaron Cruden says he knows exactly how his counterpart feels.

Cruden started the second Bledisloe Cup test last-year in place of regular first-five Daniel Carter but was pulled from the action in the secondhalf
after struggling to cope in the hot-seat.

He says he didn't handle it very well when he struggled against the Wallabies but it's made him stronger and the same will happen to Slade.

The Manawatu first-five missed selection in the 2011 All Blacks after an inconsistent Super Rugby season with the Hurricanes.

However his disappointing start to the season was short-lived as he guided the Turbos on a superb ITM Cup campaign where they finished second in the Championship table.

Although the domestic season has finished Cruden is still hoping to be part of the Rugby World Cup action, working away in the gym in case he receives a call-up for injury cover.

- Herald Online