Rugby World Cup 2011
Henry backs Slade to shine
ESPNscrum Staff
October 6, 2011
New Zealand fly-half Colin Slade passes the ball during the match against Canada, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, October 2, 2011
New Zealand flyhalf Colin Slade, seen in action against Canada, has been given public backing by head coach Graham Henry © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Sir Graham Henry | Colin Slade
Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: New Zealand

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry has backed Colin Slade to step up and fill the void left by the injured Dan Carter's in Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

Slade was selected to continue at fly-half following Carter's tournament-ending groin injury, in a side showing six changes and one positional switch from the 79-15 defeat of Canada last weekend.

Much has been made of the loss of Carter - the world's leading playmaker - as the host nation wonders if their 24-year wait for World Cup glory will come to an end on home soil on October 23. But Henry is confident Slade can step up to the mark, starting when he wins his 10th cap against the Pumas on Sunday.

Henry said: "I've been pleased with him - I think he's getting better. He's getting more comfortable in the group. He's obviously the navigator of the team playing at 10, he's got to run the ship.

"And that's a big ask when he's playing with guys who have played 100 Test matches and 75 Test matches and so on and he's played 10 at most. It's a big ask for him, but he's getting more comfortable, he's enjoying the environment - I think he'll play well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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