4 Oct 2011

Carter's absence doesn't change anything say All Blacks

6:15 pm on 4 October 2011

The All Blacks coaching staff have moved to ease the nation's fears over the loss of Dan Carter, maintaining nothing's changed as far as their World Cup plans are concerned.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith is confident Colin Slade can fill Dan Carter's boots in the knockout phase of the tournament.

Carter, has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after injuring his groin in kicking practice.

Slade played his ninth Test against Canada in the side's final pool game but showed a few nerves and struggled with his goalkicking.

Smith says Slade has the full backing of the rest of the squad as he adjusts to being the first choice first five.

He says Slade has a good skill set and he's strong defensively similar to Carter and maintains as far the side is concerned nothing has change as their plans, expectations and belief are still the same.