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Dan Carter laughs off World Cup call-up speculation

By Online Editors
Dan Carter is an All Blacks legend and the world's top test points scorer of all time. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images).

Former All Blacks great Dan Carter has laughed off speculation that he could be called upon to alleviate New Zealand’s injury woes in the first-five position for this year’s World Cup in Japan.

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Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Blues last month, eliminating his prospects of competing at the global tournament in four months’ time.

His injury-enforced absence from both Super Rugby and the national set-up exposed the All Blacks’ lack of depth at first-five, with incumbents Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga regarded the only New Zealand-based first-fives capable of playing test match rugby.

With no proven third-choice first-five to rely upon, many names were thrown around publicly as potential replacements for the electric 23-year-old.

Otere Black and Josh Ioane currently stand as the best domestically-based options outside of Barrett and Mo’unga, while some have called for New Zealand’s strict selection policy, which prevents overseas-based players from being picked for the national side, to be relaxed to make the likes of Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, Hayden Parker and 113-test Carter to be eligible for the World Cup.

However, speaking at Government House in Auckland on Wednesday to receive his ONZM for services to rugby, Carter rubbished any suggestions that he would be in line for a shock re-call to test rugby, with surgery on his neck five weeks ago set to keep him restricted to a neck brace for three months.

Dan Carter poses with his ONZM for services to rugby. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
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“I was having a laugh at that when I heard my name being thrown around,” the 37-year-old said.

“I think I can start contact training again in October. So I might be right for the semifinal or final … the first tackle in  a big game like that would be quite entertaining.

“My focus is on recovering from this with the hope of finishing off my contract in Japan.”

Currently contracted with Top League club Kobe Steelers, Carter still has at least another year in Japan, but said he believes that New Zealand have enough resources to overcome McKenzie’s injury and maintain their current overseas selection policy.

“What they have got in place has worked well,” he said.

“Injuries are part of sport and as the coaches have said, you don’t want to dwell on injuries because that’s what happens. You just have to focus on the resources and the talent that you do have and work as well as you possibly can with the talent that you have got here.”

Carter also referenced the All Blacks’ ability to overcome injury adversity in 2011, where a string of injuries wiped out himself, Cruden and Colin Slade, leaving reject Stephen Donald to steer New Zealand to their first world title in 24 years from first-five.

“There is enough talent and guys that are versatile enough (to help cover),” he said.

“The coaches and selectors have been around for a while, they will be working on things behind the scenes as well to give them some security in case there are more injuries.

“We have been in that situation before and still won a World Cup and that gives us a lot of confidence.”

In other news:

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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