Carter cleared and covered for ABs tour
21 Sep 2012
Flyhalf Dan Carter has made the All Blacks touring squad that will travel to Argentina and South Africa over the next fortnight.
Carter is still nursing a calf injury that kept him out of New Zealand’s home fixtures against Argentina and the Springboks. Head coach Steven Hansen will be hoping his star playmaker will recover in time to face South Africa in Soweto on 7 October.
The All Blacks have also added two other flyhalves to the squad in Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett, who will provide enough cover in case Carter fails to return to match fitness.
Hansen has omitted loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett as there will be enough prop selections among Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock.
All Blacks touring squad
Forwards: Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Victor Vito.
Backs: Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu, Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Tamati Ellison, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Ben Smith, Julian Savea.
21 Comments
21 Sep 2012, 06:45 am
Duane has you, Dan. Oppas Dragons!
21 Sep 2012, 07:35 am
The general is back, RC to be wrapped up in Argentina.
21 Sep 2012, 07:52 am
HM has ***** on his side. We are protected by The Lord.
21 Sep 2012, 08:58 am
21 Sep 2012, 11:36 am
Argies will probably beat this clapped-out overrated NZ side with or without Carter
21 Sep 2012, 11:49 am
@Big Hit-5: your bitterness is very pleasing to this kiwi..
but I understand, its almost ten years since your side did it, and the fact that in 100 years of trying youve only managed it 6 times really grates huh BH?
over rated or not, they have won 14 test matches straight
task just got harder for both the teams vying for the wooden spoon
21 Sep 2012, 11:55 am
@poppa69-6: Pops I was thinking last night how to rate Barret and Cruden against say Lambie and Goosen. How do you think Cruden for example would go if he played in the bok 10 shirt?
21 Sep 2012, 11:59 am
@Big Hit-5: Does your bitterness know no bounds?
How many times have good teams in the past won games they shouldn’t have because they just know how to cross the finish line first? England in their pomp were v good at this if you remember. I don’t recall you calling them clapped out. Then again, you don’t have a pathological dislike for anyone other than NZ.
If Argies are good enough, they’ll do it. If not, this “clapped-out overrated NZ side” will move onto win no. 15. And when you consider who they’ve beaten in their last 14 tests, home and away, that’s not a bad effort for a supposedly average team. What you’d give for England to be as average
21 Sep 2012, 11:59 am
Pops big t it has been waiting for 10 years, I reckon we pull a swifty on him and double up, lets make it 20 years.
21 Sep 2012, 11:59 am
@Skeppie-7: I dont think Cruden would be given the opportunity to be honest.. lets not forget last year he was the third choice flyhalf, behind Carter and Slade… he would be another Gio Aplon.
I like Barrett, but needs to work on his defensive issues…. imho he will be the future incumbent for a while
21 Sep 2012, 12:00 pm
@stodders-8: Stodders, great to see you mate… hope all is well for you..
21 Sep 2012, 12:02 pm
@Skeppie-7: In terms of potential, I’d rate them in this order – 1. Goosen, 2. Cruden, 3. Barrett, 4. Lambie. Barrett could move up the list if he sorts his tactical kicking and game management out, although he does strike me as a 15 playing at 10 sometimes.
21 Sep 2012, 12:06 pm
@poppa69-11: Hi mate, not too bad. Just popping in quickly. I keep an eye on things from time to time, but don’t have time to post. I just noticed our resident sycophant was writing his Santa wish list early and had to comment
21 Sep 2012, 12:11 pm
@stodders-13:
the more things change mate…
I think BP may have been right when he surmised that BH is probably a disgruntled Saffa living in the UK..
seems to have the attitude for it
21 Sep 2012, 12:15 pm
@poppa69-14: Nah, South Africans are a nice bunch on the whole. BH is definitely a little Englander.
21 Sep 2012, 12:31 pm
Good luck to the Kiwi’s,will be a difficult one in Arg. Hope for your sake your players don’t pick up to many injuries.
21 Sep 2012, 13:39 pm
@12, based on what we have seen so far, that order seems about right. However, goosen is at no1 based on potential whereas cruden has guided the chiefs to a super rugby championship and set the ab’s up for a 60 nil thrashing of Ireland (an outrageous result). So it will be interesting g to see if goosen is able to deliver on his potential and start exerting this sort of influence.
Barrett reminds me most of Andrew Merthens. Great attacking player, but is he hard enough if teams start targeting g his channel. Maybe I am being too critical, but cruden strikes me as a tougher nut.
21 Sep 2012, 13:51 pm
@corporal punishment-17: I agree with you. That list is based on potential from what we have seen at S14 level.
Cruden has performed adequately at international level, but his consistency isn’t there. It will take him several tests in a row to get settled I reckon and able to show consistent performances. But that won’t really happen as Carter will be around in fits and bursts for the next 2 years.
I will say this, McCaw and Carter are legends of the game. Sam Cane and Cruden may well be able replacements, but the ABs will not carry the same fear factor for a while when McCaw and Carter finally call it a day. I don’t think it will be like 1997 all over again when the likes of Fitzpatrick, Brooke et al retired because the ABs at least have a decent succession plan in place, but the effect will be similar IMO.
22 Sep 2012, 00:59 am
@ stodders – yep I agree. Realistically, players like carter, McCaw, matfield, Gregan etc only come around once in a few generations. The AB replacements in 7 and 10 are highly unlikely to be even close to as influential as carter and McCaw. As an AB supporter we have to hope that one or two similarly influential players develop in other positions – eg Kieran Reid and Israel dagg.
You don’t need to have the best players in every position to be the No1 team in the world – that’s obvious from this All Black team. You do however need to have a handful of players in that category, and the rest of the team needs to be at least competitive at international level.
Good coaching and consistent selection does rest.
22 Sep 2012, 12:08 pm
Sir Stodders.
The Sassenach Slayer returns.
22 Sep 2012, 23:47 pm
@stodders-18:
Really good to see you on here Stodds.
Hope you post more often.
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