(recasts after Carter ruled out, adds quotes)
By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – Flyhalf Daniel Carter has
been ruled out of New Zealand’s Rugby Championship clash with
Argentina on Saturday due to a calf strain, just hours after
being confirmed in the side.
Carter was named in the team earlier on Thursday and
appeared at a media conference but was then ruled out after a
team training session, coach Steve Hansen said.
“At training this morning it was apparent he would not be
able to play,” Hansen said. “So we have done the sensible thing
and withdrawn him from the test match.”
Hansen said Carter had been carrying the injury all week but
it had been hoped he would recover in time for the test at
Wellington Regional Stadium.
Aaron Cruden will now start the match in place of Carter,
while Beauden Barrett, who was not in the original 28-man squad
but had been training with the team during test weeks, will slot
in on the bench.
Hansen has also recalled Conrad Smith for the match after
the centre missed the two Bledisloe Cup tests against Australia
last month due to eye surgery.
Smith and Ma’a Nonu have had a long partnership at Super
Rugby and international level and were the first choice centre
pairing for the All Blacks during last year’s World Cup
campaign, though they have not played together since beating
France to win the Webb Ellis trophy.
Continued…
