When it was announced yesterday that Aaron Cruden would likely miss the Rugby World Cup, the feeling around New Zealand was one of disappointment, not panic. There is depth to cover for the loss of Cruden, but it certainly is a cruel blow to someone who has worked so hard.
It shows the state of New Zealand rugby in the fly-half position, they have come a long way.
Four years ago when Dan Carter went down in the pool stages of the 2011 World Cup, to say the nation panicked would be an understatement. It was more of a national emergency. There was no clear back-up and while Cruden, Colin Slade and Stephen Donald got the job done, they made far harder work of the final than Carter would have.
This time around the depth is there and while there is no one of the ability of Carter in 2011, there are four players who would have easily made the cut to back the great man up.
Carter himself receives a great boost in his chances to go to one last World Cup. There have been question marks over his game recently and indeed he has not been sighted in top form for an extended period of time since July 2012. Injuries have plagued him, a sign that he is not as young as he once was.
He no longer threatens as much with his running game, caused by a loss of the explosiveness that made him the world's best No. 10.
Perhaps we need to look past that and look at the player Carter is now, what he can still do well. The trouble is that is hard to do, as he has played such little rugby over the past three years.
There is no doubt he can control a game, bringing intelligence and all the experience in the world. He still distributes well and his defensive game is second to none, with great technique and a mindset that sees him go looking for tackles, often defending close-in to save a forward having to get to the spot.
While prior to the Cruden injury there were doubts as to whether there would be room for him, it would be a surprise if Carter did not go to the Cup now.
He will be joined by Beauden Barrett, one of the most improved players in New Zealand rugby over the past four years. Barrett has gone from a nippy outside back, to a fly-half capable of setting a back line alight, passing well, using his speed to run into gaps and showing an increasingly better kicking game.
Few teams have a pivot with the ability to threaten while also maintain the composure Barrett does; he will be valuable to the All Blacks and will quite possibly now be the first-choice No. 10.
Then you have Colin Slade who, on his day, can be as good as any in the world. He is very much a confidence player. When he is on he runs dangerously, puts players into gaps, kicks accurately off both feet, has a good pair of hands and makes his tackles. On the other hand, he can also not run at all, throw some average passes, kick poorly and miss tackles.
Lately there has been more of the good than the bad and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that he is finally having an injury-free run. He has been starting ahead of Carter at fly-half for the Crusaders and was the best No. 10 on the All Blacks end of year tour last year, so it would be hard to leave him out.
Then, if it comes to it, there are outside bolters such as Lima Sopoaga and Tom Taylor.
Sopoaga has been New Zealand's form fly-half in Super Rugby, a creative player who provides spark, but also is deadly kicking for goal, he will surely get a look in over the next few years. His lack of experience at the top level would possibly hold him back for now, but he already has a polished combination with Aaron Smith.
Taylor, a one-test All Black, is more of a solid player who will take good options and direct play. He is probably the best goal-kicker in New Zealand first-class rugby too, despite the fact that he rarely gets the job for the Crusaders as he is not a guaranteed starter. Indeed lack of playing time at No. 10 would not help him. But as the sixth player in the pecking order, he is not a bad option.
Cruden would likely have been the first-choice No. 10. But his absence is nothing compared the loss of Carter four years ago. The All Blacks went on to win four years ago, with so much quality available this time around, you would have to think the injury will not make a huge difference in terms of the team.
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