Is There Still a Place for Dan in the ABs?

On Saturday night, the All Blacks completed a remarkable turnaround against their neighbours across the ditch - thus completing a successful Southern Hemisphere international season.

First-five Colin Slade came off the bench to nail the winning penalty against the Wallabies in Brisbane, coming on for Beauden Barrett who had featured in the last three All Blacks' tests.

Meanwhile, legendary first five, Dan Carter, sat out Canterbury's defeat to Tasman in their ITM Cup Premiership Semifinal in Nelson, nursing another injury. Since his return from a long-term injury which had ruled him out of the Rugby Championship, Carter had only featured for 40 minutes for Canterbury against Southland and faces a race against time to be fit for the All Blacks' end of year tour.

Considering Carter's injuries over the last four seasons as well as his age and the fact that even with his initial understudy, Aaron Cruden dropped for the last three tests for his indiscretions prior to the All Blacks' tour of Argentina and South Africa, is there still a place for our greatest ever first five?

Dan Carter's status in All Blacks and rugby legend is secure but in his early 30s, Dan Carter is definitely in the autumn of his career and is clearly more prone to injuries after a 100-plus test career, although when he's playing at his best, there is no doubting his quality, thus underlining the old cliche - form is temporary, class is permanent.

Even so, with so many first fives of class in New Zealand rugby, the All Blacks face a position where they can go to a Rugby World Cup contemplating a campaign without Dan Carter, without any fear and with a degree of nonchalance to the point they can ask, Dan who? Indeed, the same might apply to Richie McCaw to some extent with some arguing that the loss of Kieran Read would currently be the most fatal to the ABs.

With the end of year tour set to be the dress rehearsal for the World Cup, there is plenty to play for for four of New Zealand's best first-fives - Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade. Only two first fives will be named come August next year - and one of them will feature in the "big" games, while the other will be filling in against the likes of Russia.

And given Colin Slade might have finally dusted off his reputation as being a choker, Dan Carter might not even make that flight to London in September 2015.