The All Blacks have sprung a surprise by naming Colin Slade and James Parsons as replacement players on their season-ending tour.

Crusaders five-eighth Slade effectively replaces wing Cory Jane while uncapped Blues hooker Parsons comes in for Nathan Harris.

Jane (hamstring) and Harris (ankle) both exited in the first half of Saturday’s 74-6 win over the United States in Chicago.

Neither Slade nor Parsons are likely to be involved in this weekend’s Test against England, but could play a role in the subsequent Tests against Scotland and Wales.

It was expected the selectors would opt for a specialist wing such as Frank Halai or Patrick Osborne to replace Jane, but assistant coach Ian Foster said Slade’s versatility, form and knowledge of the All Blacks’ game plan all worked in his favour.

Parsons, also 27, has apparently leapfrogged Liam Coltman and Rhys Marshall on the hooker pecking order after the two other players and Harris were included in an All Blacks apprentice programme last year.

Foster said they had been keeping their eye on Parsons and asked him to bulk up last year.

Both players were involved in a Barbarians game against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Foster denied that Parsons won selection by virtue of being in London.

“In some ways it has been made simpler by the fact he is over here,” he said.

“But what is more important is that he has just come off a big game of rugby whereas maybe the other guys haven’t had much rugby over the last two or three weeks.”