Blacks backing Slade to come up trumps

NEW ZEALAND assistant coach Wayne Smith insists the belief in the All Blacks camp and in fly-half Colin Slade is high following Dan Carter’s World Cup-ending injury.

Smith said: “Plans remain the same – expectations are exactly the same, belief of the squad is exactly the same. We don’t see anything’s changed. If you walk in the company of people who believe in you, you can achieve anything.

“He (Slade) has got a good skill set. He’s a brave kid physically, he’s strong in his defensive channel. So not too different to Daniel really. He’s got all the tools to make a go of it and he’s got the belief and encouragement from the squad.”