Ruled out: Dan Carter
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All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has been forced to pull out of Saturday's Test against Argentina after suffering a calf strain.
The ace playmaker was withdrawn from the side just hours after the team was announced on Thursday.
Coach Steve Hansen said Carter had been carrying a tight left calf in training during the week but had hoped to play.
"However, at training this morning it was apparent that he would not be able to play so we have done the sensible thing and withdrawn him from the Test match," Hansen said.
Aaron Cruden will now start in the 10 jersey, with Beauden Barrett, who made his Test debut against Ireland in June, called on to the bench.
It will be the 23-year-old Cruden's 13th Test but just his fifth start as he continues to benefit from injuries.
He was called up during last year's World Cup when Carter was injured and came on against Argentina in the quarter-finals when then fly-half understudy Colin Slade was injured.
New Zealand (revised): 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Victor Vito, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Ben Smith.
Comments
7ton says...
This article has turned into one big slanging match! Certainly amusing in parts and all started by the chief court jester Trinats who perhaps should toughen up himself, accept defeat and stop coming up with silly excuses as in previous articles.
Good luck to Cruden, keep fit Dan and good luck to both teams Saturday
Posted 10:23 07th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
2EyedKiwi:
that's good to know, now I know of two !!!
Not sure what you mean about Cruden being a sheep ??? must be a Kiwi thing !!!
tweedledee49:
I'm now starting to see jest in your posts, as we all know that McCaw head butt Coopers knee. And he had it coming.
Posted 08:01 07th September 2012
tweedledee49 says...
Trinats always thought Cooper played with a broken leg, as he probably hit supermans chin too hard with the cheapshot?lol
Posted 20:30 06th September 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
@trinats6 - I thought your post was gold. Don't fret, some of us do have a sense of humour.
Back to rugby. Cruden is the form 10, but would be great to see Barrett get a run. The young fella reminds me of Mehrtens or Larkham. If he was any more relaxed, he'd be asleep...
Posted 20:07 06th September 2012
APV1 says...
BEAVER!
BEAVER!
BEAVER!
(Shame he's injured too, though and you might not have a jersey that fits him again.)
Posted 15:37 06th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
@ freddo : him too but the talk started when all and sundry including the great iceman himself suggested McCaw shud shift to 6, after seeing Todd play in the early part of S15. IMHO Cane is good too but at international stage still a rookie :)
as im not from the 4 nations not sure if cane is in the squad.
When it comes to any game or sport, some are real class and can fit seamlessly into any team no matter at what level, be it just club, county franchise or country . Some show great ability at lower level but struggle at the top.
Dave Dennis is a good example; for that matter Victor vito was the player of tournament at u20 level (forget which year), look how long it took for him to get to test level. so many others who look good at lower levels but cannot cut it at the test level.
As for McCaw giving way , the best analogy is Sachin Tendulkar argument. Mind u Sachin is 39 now and his powers of youth are waning, but still he is such a great player no one wants to drop him!
McCaw is still good, and compared to opposition great and his leadership is undoubted quality. Don't know about u mate, but who am i to say he call time on his career, after 100 plus tests and all those winning records ????
Posted 14:57 06th September 2012
Trader2 says...
I understand that DC was carrying that injury in both Wannabis games but Hansen played him as it was considered one leg was enough to see off the Wannabies.
Posted 14:55 06th September 2012
atg77 says...
I have to agree it's most certainly not good news for Argentina... Cruden was the form fly half of the S15 and probably should have started infront of Carter anyway.
Posted 14:44 06th September 2012
atg77 says...
Yep, Carter definately being rested! I imagine they don't want to upset their paymasters by feilding what could be construed as a "second string" player. Also, didn't they pull this stunt last year with Richie McCaw? Hansen knows his team is going to win at a canter, so why not rest his key man(Carter) and give his successor a bit of a run a round?
Posted 14:41 06th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
ruckingkiwi & StunTheMullet:
It's not true what they say about you kiwis, I think you do have a sense of humour !!!
Posted 14:36 06th September 2012
masar says...
not buying it... they're resting him... but i don't consider it cheating... great to see cruden, amazing player
Posted 14:26 06th September 2012
lyndonmac says...
Can't argue with any selection at all. Thought Richie might have been rested, but that might have been a tad disrespectful to the Pumas, who made the Boks look so very ordinary last week. The T.A.B. where I live in Oz is giving the AB's a handicap of 26.5 pts for nearly even-money. About what I expected: my head says NZ by 30 because our attack is on a different planet to the Boks' kick-and-hope variety. My heart says different: in Mendoza the Pumas played a gutsy brand of rugby great to watch. I really hope they don't get over-awed by playing the world champs, and give it a red-hot go. Conrad Smith to show his class yet again, Cruden to star. Heart rules head: AB's by 15.
Posted 14:09 06th September 2012
turboboy says...
Trinats makes a very good point ............ the socks do look bit tight! They should all do the Marty Roebuck and just wear them down anyway - it worked so well for him.
The backline has a very ex Hurricanes look to it which I hope means a very intuitive flow to it. Also the turbos boys (Smith and Cruden) are reunited so normal service is resumed - just hope the AB result is better than recent Turbos ones!!
For me I think Argentina will look to rush up from the outside and try and play a more compact game which will better serve there strengths and fitness levels. If it ends up going wide and multiple phase play look out for those "injury" breaks and a lot of hands on knees come 65mins!
Posted 13:54 06th September 2012
freddo says...
@cuw3100
Don't you mean Sam Cane? I didn't think Matt Todd was in the frame at all. Its a shame that Mccaw is still getting so much game time when we have such good young alternatives that will be key in 2015.
Posted 13:35 06th September 2012
bcrugby913 says...
Very excited to see AC in action, future golden boy
Posted 13:28 06th September 2012
Ferdie says...
this is very bad news for taranaki they lose barrett friday evening for a ranfurly shield defence - he's on form, 22 and 29 points from his 2 itm cup matches this year. about time cruden got a start, maybe he'll last longer then 25moin this time (v ireland barrett took over at that point)
good overall team, understand the weather will be crap, 10 deg C and rain likely - well it is winter, on that basis maybe a low scoring one and for sure none of the 50 point bs we've seen on some posts here. the hurricanes backs didn't let the conditions slow them down this year and most of them are playing on saturday, plus some 1yr ex-hurricanes nonu, weepu and horey
Posted 13:07 06th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Agree... Sniff sniff sniff.
DC carrying his tight calf to training. Bad selection of words given what they say about South Islanders.
Posted 12:22 06th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
if the Pumas think this is good news, sorry. Cruden was the inform fly half during the S15, more like the DC at his prime.
In cricket bowlers and batsmen suffer slump in form but this is not very pronounced in games like RU, unless some has a howler like Beale.
IMHO DC was not at his magical best during the S15 where as Ac was sizzling hot!
Just think he will carry that form and confidence to tests as well.
Ditto for McCaw ; he comes in great form maybe after all the talk of Matt Todd replacing him :)
Posted 12:11 06th September 2012
Melkiwi says...
@trinats2 your telling the kiwis to harden up yet tatafu polota nau was pulled himself out because he had a sore butt lol.
Doesn't Australia have about 12 or so "injured" players. Damn cheating dingos
Posted 12:09 06th September 2012
hellovanite says...
Trinats2... Cooper is a kiwi
Posted 11:34 06th September 2012