Well we can't have any of the best 15 players in the world, because they all play for the New Zealand.
I'd hope, but don't expect, that we'd play Slade on the bench in the actual tournament because he offers so much more cover than Burgess.
Told you blokes Dan Carter would come good by the time the World Cup rolled around, didn't I? (*cough Hurricane)
Tbf he still has to hold together... and he'll be targeted hard out I'd imagine. Any AB with some kind of physical weakness will be targeted imho especially Carter.
I'd be amazed if Carter doesn't get a knock somewhere if he plays regularly. He had to go though, just for the experience alone
Made of glass just means you're injury prone, has nothing to do with how hard you are. In football two examples are Phil Jones and Daniel Agger - both very physical players who put themselves about but made of glass because they're always injured.
Better watch out Blunder, saying Carter isn't perfect is probably enough to get you on Fiery's hit list
I don't think Fox is talking out of his ass. He has no reason to. Also I wouldn't say Carter's come right, he's only played one good game and in a game where everything is going your way that's not hard.
I think Fox is being truthful, but the discussion should have been around Carter & [one of Slade vs Sopoanga] covering the starting fly-half position with Barrett as reserve. Maybe it's nostalgia goggles letting Carter circa 2005 cloud my judgement, but I still feel as though he's our best fly-half overall. Barrett was a given for me because he's our best 'off the bench' type player because of his strong running game, and he can also act as our third option at fullback after Ben Smith and Milner-Skudder. To some extent that nullified the 'versatility' advantage of Slade for me making the Sopoanga/Slade spot in the squad purely about who would be the best specialist. The Highlanders do tend to hide Lima in defence, so I had reservations about that area of his game. But his partnership with Aaron Smith (and the three other back reserves from the Highlanders in the squad) and his performance against South Africa outweighed that. I don't have many problems with the squad though. Piutau a bit unlucky perhaps.
It's obvious Carter is still far and away our No.1 10. I think Fox was just saying that to justify the Sopoaga non-selection, whilst blowing a bit of wind up Barrett and Slade to give them a confidence boost ahead of the cup.
Slade is crucial, does the basics well and his goal kicking is good too. Reckon you'll see him as more of a specialist 10/ back up 10 come play off time and Barrett more as that impact player wherever he's needed.