The All Blacks career of Chiefs five-eighth Stephen Donald appears at an end after he missed selection in a 25-strong training squad named on Wednesday, but for Colin Slade the news was more palatable.
Highlanders pivot Slade, who has not played since breaking his jaw for the second time this season on April 15, and Aaron Cruden have been preferred to Donald as potential back-ups to All Blacks No.10 Daniel Carter.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry told reporters on Tuesday Donald’s form did not warrant selection in the squad for the first of two training camps which features players not involved in the Super 15 playoffs.
“We just think other people are playing better right now and unless we have injury he’s unlikely to be involved,” said Henry.
Donald, who has played 22 Tests for the All Blacks, is set to join English premiership club Bath at the end of the season.
While the 27-year-old may have played his last game in black, one Test Slade has been given a vote of confidence by the selectors despite his lack of game time this season.
He makes his return to rugby this weekend in a club rugby match before he plays in Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield defence against North Otago the following week.
“I’ve got to hit the ground running when I do get out on the field. I’m obviously in a position where I can’t take too much time to get into the swing of things,” the 23-year-old told TVNZ.
His main competition appears to be from Cruden, whose late season improvement in form has seen the Hurricanes’ five-eighth rewarded by the selectors.
“I think he’s shown a lot of guts, he had an indifferent start to the year and he’s got better and better so I think it shows he’s got the heart for it, he’s got the courage for it,” Henry said.
“He’s also improved his kicking game, his kicking out of the hand has got a lot more length and he has a high percentage goal-kicking in the last six weeks.”
Other notable inclusions in the squad are the uncapped Chiefs prop Ben Afeaki and Highlanders lock/blindside flanker Jarrad Hoeata while the Hurricanes pair of Andrew Hore and Ma’a Nonu, unwanted by the franchise, are also included.
The first two-day camp will be held in Wellington next week with a second held on July 5-6. The first All Blacks squad for the season will be named on July 10.
The players invited to the first camp next week:
Chiefs: Ben Afeaki, Hikawera Elliot, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Hurricanes: Aaron Cruden, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Cory Jane, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Neemia Tialata, Victor Vito and Piri Weepu. Highlanders: Jimmy Cowan, Tom Donnelly, Jarrad Hoeata, Colin Slade, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson.Injured players: Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and Tony Woodcock.
Justin
Guest
Never ever liked donald as a test player! (even if he had a good game) must be his big head. A very good npc player and a alright s15 player but never again put him in black! And I think the coaches finnally figured it out, and only after losing to the wallabies did they.
Gut Rot
Guest
I know Toney Daley so....
AC
Guest
Alright mate! What have you ever done in the international sporting arena? Nothing! So don't...
Gut Rot
Guest
Donald is a national discrace at internation level. The rugby public dont forget. Sound player at NPC level. Jog on Son
The Bush
Roar Guru
I've liked the look of Cruden in the last few weeks, could indeed be a potential successor to Carter. Time will tell.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
That is a very fair point about the forwards picking up in the last 20 minutes. Either way competition and rivalry for 1 position in any team is only a good thing. it brings out the best of players.
johnny-boy
Guest
I've got a bit of a feeling that the All Blacks and Henry are going to end up regretting relying so heavily on Carter and McCaw and other old stagers for so so long. They seem pretty near the end of their run and a bit fragile. Kind of just plain worn out which is not surprising given the bashing they have taken over the years, especially McCaw.
Sylvester Hyde
Guest
"and also think it telling he couldn’t knock Brett out of the way when they both were at Canterbury / Crusaders" I think that was more to do with the fact that Slade was the more versatile player, and that initially Brett, being the heir apparent, was given every oppprtunity. If I recall, Slade was the first choice over Brett in last season's ITM Cup.
Bakkies
Guest
Very disappointed that Donald has missed out. I suppose there will be injuries to the squad where he might be next in line. Still a load of rugby to be played before the RWC
Manuwatu
Guest
Excellent Provincial player with a very methodical/mechanical approach to his Rugby that deserved his first few opportunities with the AB's. However after those first few opportunities it seemed very clear to all but the AB selectors that he was never going to make the necessary steps to hold down the toughest job in world Rugby. The only reason that he ever played more than a couple of Test's was because he could be hidden behind the best forward pack in the world.
darwin stubby
Guest
Is Cruden a long term back up - too early to say - but if he keeps improving the way he has then the signs are positive he can do the job - when given the opportunity he certainly has shown he can set the Hurricanes backline away ... but longer term I think Barrett from Taranaki may well be the man I actually think there is a lot of fake perception in respect to Slade in comparison to Cruden ... yes he's good but most hark back to that Sydney test - yet don't give any credence to the fact that the forwards woke up and produced in the final 20 mins almost at the time when he came on - so he benefited from a pack finally going forward and Weepu (who had a shocker) going off - if the roles were reversed I'm sure the discussion would also be around the other way ... Slade is a competent 1st 5 - but in the early games of this SR rugby prior to injury he wasn't actually playing that well ... and also think it telling he couldn't knock Brett out of the way when they both were at Canterbury / Crusaders
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Obviously Cruden has the inside running this year for the backup role due to Slade’s Injuries, but do you think he is long term back up to Carter or when he eventually retires? From what I have seen of both of them, Slade seems to be the more composed 5-8 who does the basics right and sets the direction for his team. Cruden on the other hand seems a bit more rushed in his actions, and it is evident by his flaky performances in bigger matches. As you say, Cruden has been working on it, and it is something that can be changed, look at Cooper for example; the King Flake is turning into more of an iceman with every match. In that test last year when Slade came on he played really well and the back line looked more damaging for it.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
think he'd be heading to the chiefs regardless - Donald is yesterday's nearly man, as indicated by the selection of the train on squad ... also Rennie is a quality coach who has worked with Cruden for a number of years at both provincal and U20 level .. it's a no brainer really - esp when you throw in that mess that the Hurricanes are at present
Brett McKay
Guest
didn't realise Donald was heading to Europe after this year, that would certainly explain why Cruden is considering joining Rennie at the Chiefs. And agree with most above, I would have thought Donald's experience alone might have got into provisional squads, at the very least..
oneteam
Guest
Its shame Donald has been left out. He was supurb against the Wallabies to end 2010. The missed penalty, not finding touch...and allowing the Wallabies to steal victory..you legend!! I'm sure the Wllabies and France will miss him but thanks for the memories.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Well I'm sure Cruden wil be hoping that the forwards step up from the get go next time around ... he was basically hung out to dry by the worst AB forward effort of 2010 that was compounded by Weepu and Nonu also stepping into his space all night ... Donald also suffered from some substandard performances in '09 and overall he's a decent footballer who has rung everything out a mechanical approach to the game and it certainly doesn't help to be plying your trade at the same time as Carter who makes everything look easy ... and it's easy to say in hindsight he shouldn't have gone on last year's end of year tour - but in reality that cemented the fact he wasn't up to pressure test match rugby - if he hadn't gone there's a chance the coaches may still be wondering about whether to pick him or not .. thankfully that question has been answered. Cruden's shown enough in the latter part of SR that he's capable of running a backline and has done everything to improve his game that was asked of him .. and reading between the lines of Henry's comments he's got the inside rails on being Carter's #2 ... it will be very interesting to see was he's capable of behind a firing AB pack - I suspect it'll be very good ... and not a bad result this morning also !
Winston
Guest
I sure hope Cruden can improve ahell of a lot on his last AB game. He was far worse than SD has ever played for the ABs. Must admit, SD cops a lot more flack than he deserves. He could still be the second best 10 in Nz
Taniwha
Guest
True Katzilla. I have never been a fan, but it must be remembered that it is more the selectors fault for continually choosing him than his own, he was just a good provincal player who couldn't make the next step up. The vitriol since his axing has been a little unfortunate. One wonders whether he would have got another chance if Weepu had not been injured for last years end of year tour. I suspect they would have taken one of the young guys if Weepu had not been injured, a moot point anyway. Cruden and Slade still have a lot to prove in regards to handling test match pressure.
katzilla
Roar Guru
He deserves a little credit for filling in admirably at times, people tend to forget the games we won whilst he was at first five. Its easier to remember the nail biters where we went down i suppose. Adieu Duck. Hopefully someone in Bath corrects your kicking flaws.