Australia are “definitely still contenders” to win next year’s Rugby World Cup in England despite their current off-field strife, according to occasional All Blacks fly-half Colin Slade.
It needed Slade’s last-gasp conversion to see world champions New Zealand to a 29-28 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia in Brisbane on October 18.
However, that was not the end of the day’s drama, with Australia coach Ewen McKenzie sensationally confirming his resignation after the match following the fall-out from the Kurtley Beale text message affair.
With star fly-half Dan Carter back to full fitness, Slade’s on-field efforts were not good enough to gain him a place in New Zealand’s squad for their tour of the United States and Europe which starts with Saturday’s international against the US Eagles in Chicago.
But Slade has the chance to inflict fresh misery on Australia as a member of the invitational Barbarians side selected by All Blacks great John Kirwan for the Wallabies’ European tour opener at Twickenham on Saturday.
Long-term, he expects that, under the guidance of new coach Michael Cheika, the two-time World Cup winners would be a “massive force” at the 2015 edition.
“They are definitely still contenders next year,” said 27-year-old Slade. “They showed in that last Test they’re not far away at all.
“We’ve never taken them lightly, whatever the media have said, we’ve always respected them.
“They are having a tough time at the moment, but I tell you what, situations like that can really galvanise the team in the long-term.”
Although not selected in New Zealand coach Steve Hansen’s original tour squad, Slade remains on standby; an understandable precaution given fellow Crusader Carter’s long history of leg injuries.
Slade is also well aware of how players can be drafted in late after both Carter and he suffered groin injuries during the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
That led to the All Blacks calling up Stephen Donald from a fishing trip, with the third choice No.10 going on to play a starring role in New Zealand’s win over France in the final.
“What happened in 2011 with Stephen (Donald), those situations can arise.
“If that situation happens again, you’ve got to be ready to step up.”
