The All Blacks on Wednesday named fly-half Colin Slade as replacement for the injured Dan Carter for the New Zealanders’ Rugby Championship campaign.
Carter cracked a calf bone in the Canterbury Crusaders Super 15 final loss to the NSW Waratahs last weekend, and will miss at least three of New Zealand’s six Championship games, including two against Australia.
“Colin Slade has been called into the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad as injury cover for the injured Dan Carter,” New Zealand announced on the team’s official Twitter feed.
However, Slade is only likely to get a game if injury again strikes the All Blacks, with coach Steve Hansen expected to start Aaron Cruden as pivot and name Beauden Barrett on the bench.
Slade, 26, has played just 11 Tests since his debut in 2010, with his international career frequently interrupted by injury, including two broken jaws, a broken ankle, and a groin injury during the 2011 World Cup.
He has performed strongly for the Crusaders this year, helping them reach the final as Carter sat out most of the season on sabbatical.