Super Rugby Aotearoa: The reason why Dan Carter may never debut for the Blues
Dan Carter running out for the Blues in a Super Rugby Aotearoa match was just days away from being a reality. Now, it’s something that might never happen.
The long-time Crusaders No. 10 and 112-match All Black was named to make his debut for the Blues against the Hurricanes in round six of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season, but was withdrawn from the final team sheet after succumbing to a calf injury leading into the match.
For the past few weeks, the 38-year-old has been rehabilitating the injury and began doing some running last week.
In a question and answer session in Instagram, Carter gave no indication of when he might return, but admitted he had no expectations of getting any game time when he joined the club on a short-term deal as an injury replacement for Stephen Perofeta.
“I wasn’t really expecting to (play) to be honest, unless there was an injury to Beauden (Barrett) or Otere (Black),” Carter admitted. “Both of those boys have been on fire over the past couple of months, so I’m happy to just contribute and helping out the team whatever way I can.
“I’ve had a good week; been getting a little bit of running under the belt and the calf is feeling good. Old man calves, they take a bit longer than they used to back when I was a young fella so you’ve just got to be patient with these things.”
After the Blues’ round eight 32-21 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin yesterday, they only have one game left to play, with a bye next week. If results go their way, that will be a game against the Crusaders which could decide the competition.
Taking a bonus-point win over the Highlanders, the Blues sit just two points behind the Crusaders in the standings, but with the Crusaders having a game in hand, the Auckland club will be hoping the Highlanders tip up the competition leaders in the penultimate round of the season next week. With no post-season, whoever sits at the top of the table after 10 rounds claims the title.
The Blues and Crusaders meet in the final match of the competition, and to have the title on the line in that match is a promoter’s dream.
It would also be a poetic arena for Carter to make his debut for the Blues, which would likely be little more than a short cameo off the bench. However, assistant coach Tana Umaga said Carter would not be considered if he wasn’t fully fit.
“We’re not going to put him out there and he’s not going to put himself out there if he’s not 100 percent. I don’t think that’s fair to him, fair to the team or fair to the people.
“He knows his body better than anyone. We don’t want to risk that and he doesn’t want to do that either.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments