Pool A latest – Carter cleared
21 Sep 2011
Keo.co.za brings you the latest news from Pool A.
Carter cleared – Dan Carter is fit and available for the All Blacks’ all-important pool game against France.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen confirmed Carter’s availability on Wednesday. Carter had previously missed the last pool match against Japan due to a back injury.
‘Yes. Ready to go. Great for the tournament and great for him and great for us. He’s a great player and you want your great players, in all the sides, to be available to play,’ Hansen said.
Mils’ days numbered - Reports from New Zealand say Israel Dagg has ousted Mils Muliaina as the All Blacks’ run-on fullback.
Dagg has been in outstanding form throughout the tournament and has illuminated the competent but ageing Muliaina’s limitations. Stuff rugby reports that coach Graham Henry has finally accepted that Muliaina, capped 98 times, cannot be carried any longer.
The All Blacks name their side for the crunch pool clash with France on Thursday and the 31-year-old is not expected to feature in the match 22. With a plethora of dynamic bunch options available to Henry, Muliaina will be hard-pressed to even make the cut in this regard.
Meanwhile Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, the most notable absentees for the previous Test against Japan, are set to be named to start against France.
13 Comments
21 Sep 2011, 06:56 am
He had been draggin his ahrse of late.
21 Sep 2011, 07:00 am
Damn. I was hoping Henry would be dumb enough to play him and say it’s because of ‘experience’.
21 Sep 2011, 07:26 am
big mistake i think, mils will be better in ‘that moment’ of nervous tension (aka choking) that will at some point course through the team if things go a little pear shaped in any of the knockouts. the israeli’s too young to know how to handle it.
21 Sep 2011, 09:05 am
@conan wishes he was a springbok #4 locks girlfriend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-3: You comment is so tired
21 Sep 2011, 09:06 am
And France revenge will be so sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
21 Sep 2011, 09:38 am
Dagg’s magical performances cannot be ignored any longer. Also there is enough experience in that back line to balance things with his youth. He’ll be fine.
21 Sep 2011, 09:43 am
I am picking a massive win and a complete game by the ABs as we progress claiming the Web Ellis, missing in action for 24 long years
21 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
I am more worried about backup to Dan Carter, which is why i have selected Mcallaster in the sqaud, but he has fallen out of favour with GH.
21 Sep 2011, 10:57 am
@stew(stew)-4:
i am sorry for bringing it up, but it is a fact of the matter in regards the all blacks and their historical world cup performances. the sooner you/kiwis/all black teams/coaches embrace this fact the easier it becomes to slay the dragon it has become for nz.
until then just deal with it. mind you its no different to the proteas and their historical world cup performances. do not blame me, or label me tired for simply stating a fact.
21 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
If I was Henry I’d play slade at 10 for France that boy needs a lot of testing matches at this level! Carter can come in in the last 20 mins and get a warm up run. Mils has been at all sorts this year, the Jew is an exciting proposition at the back.
21 Sep 2011, 15:16 pm
I wonder if he will actually play wings on the wing this time.
21 Sep 2011, 15:27 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-10: Think it is time for the Abs now to play the strongest team and now build momentum – we dont want any fiascos like 2007
21 Sep 2011, 16:00 pm
Shocked about Thomas Waldron , cant believe that he would want to play for England – reeks of desparation
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