PHOTOS: Cruden's potential World Cup replacements

1/14

1/14 With Aaron Cruden's serious injury confirmed, it means one of the First Five slots in the All Blacks World Cup team is up for grabs.
2/14

2/14 Dan Carter seems more likely than ever to be the starting 10 now that Cruden is out.
3/14

3/14 Next in line is Beauden Barrett, who has been a huge factor in the Hurricanes' storming start to the season.
4/14

4/14 Colin Slade, off overseas next year, is a strong candidate.
5/14

5/14 Tom Taylor has played All Black rugby, but has struggled to kick on from his debut.
6/14

6/14 The main contender to be a bolter is Lima Sopoaga, currently tearing up the Super 15 with the Highlanders.
7/14

7/14 Simon Hickey is a young gun who is probably a 4 year cycle away from a shot at the black jersey.
8/14

8/14 Damian McKenzie is likely to get good starting minutes at the Chiefs over the rest of the season.
9/14

9/14 His brother Marty McKenzie is another candidate for that slot.
10/14

10/14 Other unlikely candidates include Hayden Parker
11/14

11/14 Ihaia West is bearing the brunt of being in a poor performing side, undermining his chances.
12/14

12/14 Dan Bowden has been around a while now, and may be an outside shot at being called up.
13/14

13/14 If all else fails, there is the remote possibility of a policy change to bring Nick Evans back into the fold from overseas.
14/14

14/14 And if all the potential candidates go down, well, one man has faced that situation before and come through alright.
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With the news of Aaron Cruden's injury, a space has opened up in the All Blacks for a 10. Who are the leading candidates to take the job, and who are the outside chances to be a bolter? Check out our gallery for more.

(Photosport and Getty Images)