Memories of their 2011 World Cup playmaker crisis have filtered back into the All Blacks camp after Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett were placed in doubt for Saturday’s second Bledisloe Cup Test in Wellington.
Starting five-eighth Cruden (knee) and his replacement Barrett (calf) both picked up knocks late in the 47-29 win over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
They underwent scans on Monday and missed training but their availability won’t be known until Tuesday at the earliest.
With veteran No.10 Dan Carter ruled out for a second week with a calf strain, the All Blacks coaches have taken no chances, calling 11-Test veteran Colin Slade and uncapped Tom Taylor into the squad.
Two other uncapped players – 22-year-old loose forwards Luke Whitelock and Brad Shields – were also whistled up due to a groin injury that is likely to rule out lock Luke Romano and the hamstring strain which is sidelining first-choice blindside flanker Liam Messam.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster admits starting a new five-eighth has the potential to be disruptive.
Slade, 25, hasn’t played a Test for two years. He has battled various injuries since and endured a mixed 2013 Super Rugby season with the Highlanders.
“It’s a big change but we really feel that those guys are coming in because they’ve earned the right to be here,” Foster said.
“If we do have new drivers come in, it’s a bit more opportunity for those around them to show more leadership.”
The situation has the potential to mirror the latter stages of the 2011 World Cup, when All Blacks No.10s fell like dominoes.
Carter, Slade and Cruden all went down with injuries, resulting in the much-maligned Stephen Donald famously earning a call up for the final against France, where he came off the bench and kicked a crucial penalty in New Zealand’s 8-7 win.
Foster smiled when asked if Donald was next on his list this week.
“We’re happy with what we’ve got.
“We’ve been here before and while it’s disappointing for the guys who’ve got niggles, it’s a great opportunity for the other two.”
Taylor, 24, was called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover ahead of their tour-ending Test against England last December but wasn’t included in the playing squad.
Replacing Cruden will be a tall order given his influence in the six-try performance in Sydney, which included a 20-point haul.
One player poised to return from injury is uncapped midfield back Francis Saili (ankle).
His unavailability last week allowed Ryan Crotty to make his debut off the reserve bench in Sydney.