New Zealand Rugby
Surgery setback for Slade
ESPNscrum Staff
October 31, 2011
New Zealand's Colin Slade receives treatment, New Zealand v Argentina, Rugby World Cup quarter-final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, October 9, 2011
Colin Slade was laid low by injury during New Zealand's Rugby World Cup campaign © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Dan Carter | Aaron Cruden | Colin Slade
Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby | Rugby World Cup

Colin Slade has been battling an infection for the past week as he continues his recovery from the groin problem which cut short his Rugby World Cup campaign.

The All Blacks fly-half suffered an adverse reaction to an injection which he had taken to help determine the severity of his injury and was forced to undergo surgery as a consequence.

The unforeseen complication has resulted in the scheduled operation on Slade's groin being put back for at least a fortnight, thus putting his availaibility for the start of the new Super Rugby season in jeopardy.

However, Slade remains hopeful that he will be fit for the Highlanders' opener against the Chiefs in Waikato on February 25. "Hopefully I can get the operation done and move on and look forward to next year," he is quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald.

Slade took over as New Zealand's first-choice No.10 following an injury to Dan Carter during the pool stages of the World Cup but then saw his own tournament ended by an adductor muscle tear just 33 minutes into the quarter-final win over Argentina at the turn of the month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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