WELLINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Flyhalf Dan Carter’s calf strain is still causing him problems but he will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness before New Zealand embark on a two-game road trip to conclude the Rugby Championship.
While four wins out of four have put the world champions on the verge of clinching the title in the inaugural version of the southern hemisphere competition, they have a tough finish to the championship.
They play Argentina in La Plata on Sept. 29 and South Africa in Johannesburg on Oct. 6 and coach Steve Hansen told reporters that Carter, who missed the All Blacks previous two matches with the injury, was still causing some concern.
“No he’s not running full noise yet. The medical staff think he will be (okay), but we’ll have to wait and see,” Hansen told Fairfax Media in Dunedin on Sunday.
“We’ll probably make a decision late in the week, probably Friday.”
Carter’s calm reassurance was sorely missed in atrocious conditions against the Pumas last week, though his understudy Aaron Cruden grew into the game at Wellington Regional Stadium and looked more composed directing the team against the Springboks in Dunedin on Saturday.
“The two young guys (Cruden and scrumhalf Aaron Smith) drove us around the park quite well in the second half,” Hansen said after the All Blacks snuck to a 21-11 victory over South Africa.
“They’re continuing to grow and get experience and that experience will do us well in the future.”
The All Blacks have won 14 successive tests and have had to do so largely without Carter, who has played just six of the matches due to injuries.
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