The All Blacks are sweating over the fitness of star playmaker Dan Carter after the fly-half pulled up with a leg injury at a training session in Cardiff.
Steven Hansen explained to stuff.co.nz that his playmaker had "felt a twinge in his right leg", with just one day remaining before they face Wales.
Carter was an unused replacement last week against Italy and if unavailable it is likely the number ten shirt will stay with Aaron Cruden.
Half-back partner Aaron Smith came through the session unscathed but did ice his troublesome knee immediately after training on Thursday.
Comments
ferdie says...
carpelone - no biblical stuff, but thought Cruden coped OK, just 18 points.
How'd your 10 go?
Posted 18:55 24th November 2012
carpelone says...
Cruden can multiply bread and fish, walk on water, restore sight to blind and so on, like everyone wearing an almost black jersey.
Amen.
Posted 08:24 24th November 2012
Trader2 says...
fattysock
Don't take carpelone to seriously he is a few spears short of the whole armoury.
Posted 02:04 24th November 2012
racdavies says...
Carter's out. Shame, was hoping to see his mastery of the game again.
Posted 19:01 23rd November 2012
jontheref says...
Cruden will be OK, as already said, much better than Priestland anyway.
I think Priestland should show some harmony and hospitality, and withdraw, as Carter has.
I can dream.
Posted 18:32 23rd November 2012
APV1 says...
I'm with passtheball - call up Stephen Donald. It worked for the RWC final, after-all.
He might be a bit sore after beating Quins tonight, but he's a pro, so he'll manage.
(Please try to find him a shirt that fits this time, though).
Posted 15:33 23rd November 2012
fattysock says...
@carpelone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trader2
...New Zealand picked up a small trophy...
Just
~~~~~~~~
So? Did we win it or not? How close was the 1995 final? How close was the 2003 final? Didn't realise that JUST winning made it any less relevant?
Posted 15:01 23rd November 2012
Euskadi says...
@ Carpelone - Cooper in the 2012 season doesn't have a blade of grass on Cruden, after all we should be talking about the present, Beale is not a 10...was the form 15 for a while but not a genuine 10 IMO, I prefer Barnes for Aus. Goosen is an up and comer and i'm keen to see his progress but on balance not presently a match for Cruden IMO. Freddie is the Carlos Spencer of French rugby, can be very very good and his current form is impressive, but he like the rest of the French team can become very very ordinary from one week to the next - on current form you have a point with Freddie, but the rest of those that you list from the NH would struggle to start in the NZ S15 teams, maybe the Blues would pick one up and of that I'd probably choose Priestland as I think he could become a potential star, having said that i'd start Barret and Weepu before Priestland, Hook, Sexton or Flood, hell i'd rather have McAllister before all of the HN guys, not up with Nick Evans' form so cant comment there.
Posted 14:50 23rd November 2012
tha_mai says...
cruden - see he's only had seven starts, can't compare with carter's exp. His best match i think was in rwc when they beat Australia in the semi, didn't have kicking duties (Weepu) which may have helped, but still a pressure game.
The often-injured Colin Slade still in the picture for next year, and many pick Beauden barret to be ahead of Cruden, unsure about that but at least there are options.,
Posted 14:08 23rd November 2012
Kinsman says...
@carpelone, Cruden was the form 10 of SR against 4 of the players you have listed. Of the NH 10's, I think you alone would suggest Priestland and Hook. In fact I suspect almost every Welshman commenting on this site would prefer Cruden to Priestland. In Crudens outing against Sexton in June, in 25 minutes he scored or created 4 tries and as mentioned below, he was instrumental in the dismantling of Australia in the RWC semi-final.
Admittedly, he has not always shown Carter's steadiness at test level but neither have any of the 10's you have listed. I for one am more than happy to see him get another outing at this level and in comparison to all other nations, have no concerns for our depth at 1st 5.
Posted 12:14 23rd November 2012
passtheball says...
No need to panic! I think Beaver is fit and just down the road. No white-baiting so he is good to go. But has he got his phone on? Not sure that Bath would miss him.
Posted 11:48 23rd November 2012
carpelone says...
Cruden is New Zealand's second best, for sure.
I can think of at least 5 better flyhalves who I would pick ahead of him (Beale, Cooper, Goosen, Michalak, Priestland, Sexton, Hook and I am forgetting someone).
He had an exceptional SR and an average RC, he needs to shift a gear or two up to prove that he is test material. I hope he does because his story is exemplary and he was quite fun to watch at SR level.
Posted 10:13 23rd November 2012
carpelone says...
Johno_1000.
Why do you have to say I do not know what are you on? Do you think it is acceptable?
Cruden is a very good player at SR level, but is no DC, by far. If you are dreaming that whoever will wear the 10 black jersey will perform as DC uses to do, you are delusional.
Posted 09:03 23rd November 2012
Euskadi says...
Cruden is no Carter but IMO he is the next best 10 currently in the NH and perhaps the world, given the options available should Carter be ruled out (and I think he will be) what would you suggest?
Posted 09:02 23rd November 2012
carpelone says...
Trader2
...New Zealand picked up a small trophy...
Just
Posted 08:42 23rd November 2012
Trader2 says...
If DC doesn't play and the AB's lose, that won't be the reason, sure he will be miseed but heh if you are the best team in the world you don't get there because of one man. I recall about 12 or so months ago he and a few other No 10's weren't there and the AB's picked up a small trophy. Also I have noticed that when DC is out the other guys move up a gear or two, so AB's by 23 if DC plays and 27 if he doesn't.
Seriously I don't think it is a bad thing for NZ rugby to test Cruden again, lets face it 2015 is three years away and DC will not be around then, his body is feeling the strain and I would be massively surprised if he was still playing at this level.
Posted 23:43 22nd November 2012
Johno_1000 says...
carpelone im not sure what your on but aaron cruden is way better than basically every other 1st 5 in the world bar dan carter you obviously didnt watch the rugby world cup semi last yr against the aussies he would slot comfortably no worries
Posted 23:30 22nd November 2012
Kiwikev says...
Piri Weepu could play first five and the AB would still likely win given the rest of the run on side...
Posted 20:44 22nd November 2012
carpelone says...
Euskadi. I usually like and agree with your posts.
This time I don't. Cruden is not test material yet, similarly to Lambie. SR is their playground.
Pity, too many injuries for Dan.
Posted 20:37 22nd November 2012
Euskadi says...
Cruden is capable and POW can cover from the bench
Posted 19:40 22nd November 2012