Carter expected to travel

Carter expected to travel

16 Sep 2012

Dan Carter continues to struggle with a calf injury but is likely to make the trip to Argentina with the All Blacks.

Blacks coach Steve Hansen said a decision on Carter’s fitness would be left as late as possible before the 28-strong squad is announced for the final two matches of their Rugby Championship campaign, the next against the Pumas on 30 September.

‘He’s [Carter] not running full noise yet. The medical staff think he will be [okay], but we’ll have to wait and see,’ Hansen said. ‘We’ll probably make a decision late in the week, probably Friday.

Hansen said he would have some difficult selection calls to make if Carter was declared fit.

‘[Keeping Beauden Barrett] is an option we’ve got, but we’ve got five props as well, so we might leave one of them at home and we have an extra loose forward too, so we could leave one of them home.’

Hansen said there weren’t any other serious injury concerns, but added that Richie McCaw did take a battering. ‘Richie’s probably the sorest. He has a pretty sore neck. He got a stinger near the end of the game and a hematoma in his leg, but everyone’s expected to be available to get on the plane next Saturday so that’s great,’ he said.


11 Comments

  • 1.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 10:00 am

    Be good to have him back, NZ has missed him.

  • 2.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 12:41 pm

    Cruden’s a worthy sub.

  • 3.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 12:54 pm

    That would make a big difference for the return test vs the Boks. I hope he’s fit enough

  • 4.fitz1ella: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 13:04 pm

    Barrett should be fast tracked he’s better than Cruden.. WAY better

  • 5.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 14:43 pm

    They’re all obsolete if the NZ forwards don’t front up away from home.

  • 6.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 14:45 pm

    @fitz1ella-4: think you may be right Skoppie, but Barrett has to work on his defense, is weaker than Cruden in this department at the mo..

  • 7.blik: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 18:49 pm

    @poppa69-6: How long do you think Dan Carter has left as NZs top no 10?

  • 8.viewer: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 20:56 pm

    @7 carter’s on a pricey 4 year contract & is eligible to represent the ABs all the way up to WC 2015. He’s still decent but he’s not going to ever re-produce his play against the 2005 British & irish lions & all the Tests vs SA in SA, & against france on the EOY tours during the graham henry years. That type of flyhalf play comes around once in a generation

  • 9.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 21:30 pm

    @Big Hit-5:

    That wasn’t the case last Saturday. The forwards didn’t front up and the backs still won the game.

  • 10.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    16 Sep 2012, 22:23 pm

    @Pencil-9:
    Yep…..AB backline will almost always keep them in the game or in with a shot of taking a win even when the forwards are marginally losing the breakdown battle and collisions.

  • 11.outrightrugby: Reply to this comment
    18 Sep 2012, 15:51 pm

    PETITION AGAINST MORNE

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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