First Dan Carter, now Slade. With the latest first-five World Cup-ending groin injury confirmed today, Cruden's poise and confidence when taking the reins in front of an Eden Park crowd of almost 60,000 is grounds for optimism as the side prepares for a semifinal against the Wallabies.
Cruden, 21, was only brought into the squad last week following Carter's demise. Until then his preparation for World Cup knockout rugby had been a bit of gym work and some touch footy with his mates.
"I'd been in the gym but I hadn't done much running and the lungs were burning but the adrenaline just kicks in and you keep going,'' he said.
"Generally I was pretty happy [with game]. Running out there the crowd and everything was pretty overwhelming but the senior guys got behind me and told me to play my game and I think as the game went on I was able to do that a little bit more.''
It helped that he was playing outside the brilliant Piri Weepu, who steadied a ship that was in danger of running aground in the face of Argentina's muscularity and smothering defence.
After taking the field late in the first half, Cruden showed elusiveness with the ball and his passing was crisp and accurate. He went close to scoring a try in the corner in the second half following a kick-pass but was pushed into touch.
It was a performance in stark contrast to his last appearance for the All Blacks _ the one-point victory over the Wallabies in Sydney 13 months ago. He started that match but looked overawed and even failed with the basics such as re-starts. In the end he was substituted for Slade.
Now though he is showing the benefits of that experience and the full support of the All Blacks squad, with Cruden revealing Carter has been offering advice.
"Dan has been around the hotel helping me and Colin out. He's just saying `embrace it', we're in the team for a reason, we're good enough to be here and test ourselves against the best in the world.
"Throughout the week at training the boys have really got behind me and given me a lot of good feedback and helped me out in getting to know the structures again. When I went out there I was pretty nervous but I just knew I had a job to do.
"To be honest I don't think it has fully sunken in. A week ago I was sitting on the couch watching the games on TV and now I'm playing in them. I feel very blessed to be here.''
Graham Henry today said Cruden had their backing as the All Blacks' first-choice first-five and discounted talk of moving Weepu there.
"I thought he [Weepu] played pretty well yesterday. And also he can navigate the side from there [10] because that's his best position, that's where he feels most comfortable and having a young 10 with him, I think it's very important that he takes over the navigating of the side, the running of the team.''