Dan Carter scratched from Bledisloe Cup test Steve Hansen has instructed Dan Carter to target the test against the United States in Chicago as his comeback match for the All Blacks. Carter, who has only played 40 minutes for Canterbury since he fractured the fibula bone in his right leg during the Super Rugby grand final on August 2, has officially been ruled out of next weekends test against the Wallabies in Brisbane. *Sonny Bill Williams returns to rugby *Japan appear to lead Super Rugby bid Hansen is set to re-call Aaron Cruden, who was dropped from the recent tour of Argentina and South Africa for his late night antics in Auckland, to join incumbent first five-eighth Beauden Barrett for the dead rubber at Suncorp Stadium. Carter, who hasnt played for the All Blacks since earning his 100th test cap against England in London last November, has been scratched from Canterburys final National Provincial Championship round-robin match against Taranaki on Sunday. It is hoped the pain in his lower right leg will subside enough for him to play in the NPC semifinal the following weekend. We wont take him to Brisbane, and DC believes this as well, that we are better to get him going and confident and happy in himself in his game, Hansen told Radio Sport today. If all goes well, then we will take him on the end of year tour and he is likely to start against USA. Although Carter ran with the Canterbury squad yesterday it is understood he feels discomfort in leg after trainings. This latest setback adds to a frustrating year for the 32-year-old. After taking a six-month sabbatical he returned to make two appearances for his Southbridge club and five for the Crusaders before getting injured in the grand final against the Waratahs in Sydney. Hansen had this to say when asked if Carter was being cut too much slack because of his reputation. He is one of the great players of all time and if he is fit and free of injury, then he is still a great player. Ben Smith, who has carried a massive workload since starting his year by appearing in all of the Highlanders games this year, will miss the Brisbane match because he was physically drained at towards the end of the Rugby Championship. He lost 6kg in that last week and is showing signs of wear and tear, Hansen said. He wont play against the States, either. He will come back in against England. The All Blacks meet England in London on November 9 and will face Scotland in Edinburgh and Wales in Cardiff over the following two weekends. Hansen also believed captain Richie McCaw, who surpassed Colin Meads total of 133 appearances for the All Blacks in Joburg, played one of his best games for the All Blacks in Sunday mornings 27-25 loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg. That would have been a bigger game as he would have played, including World Cup finals.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 20:00:56 +0000
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