Highlanders a smart move

Colin Slade's decision to move his Super 15 allegiance to the Highlanders from the high-profile Crusaders side that launched him in the game has won the approval of All Blacks' coach Graham Henry.

Henry said it was a positive decision by Slade.

"A lot of young guys don't make that sort of decision and they should in my opinion.

"When they are blocked in their franchise team from showing what they can do, in a particular position, he has made a strong decision because he wants to prove himself and I can only pat him on the back for that," he said.

While there might have been cause for frustration in the lack of game at first five-eighths, given Dan Carter was ahead of him in the Crusaders, Slade who played most of the time at fullback was aware the selectors were interested in him.

"We've given him encouragement and selected him in the Barbarians side against the New Zealand Maori where he played well again that day.

"He knows that we thing he's got some ability. But at the end of the day it's his decision what he's going to do with his rugby," he said.

At the same time the Crusaders coaches had a job to try and win the competition and they had a deficiency at fullback where Slade played 'pretty well' for them.

"Now they've got a fullback [Israel Dagg from the Highlanders], and he was filling a hole that they had," he said.