Daniel Carter out for up to 8 weeks.

[nickdnz]

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - New Zealand flyhalf Daniel Carter will be out of action for up to eight weeks after being told he needs surgery on a troublesome ankle injury.
Carter has carried the injury throughout the Tri-Nations, which New Zealand won with a game to spare on Saturday thanks to a 29-22 victory over world champions South Africa.
"Given that movement in my foot is being affected, it's obviously in my best interests to have the surgery now," Carter said in a New Zealand news release on Sunday.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/7804315/black-carter-needs-ankle-surgery-weeks

Two things come to mind here.
1. Crap, Daniel Carter is out. That means Cruden will be donning the 10 jersey against Australia, which seriously jepordizes our chances of going unbeaten in the Tri Nations (and I so do want that)
2. Yay, Daniel Carter is out. Now Aaron Cruden can get a bit more game time against the top sides, which will put us in good stead for the RWC.

 

[lance2010]

choice for Cruden i still think he needs to bulk up somemore tho,does this mean Mc Allister will come in...

 

[squirrel]

i dont think the wallabies have a chance vs the abs anyway,two tough games in the republic to play first
i thought carter's been average all year i thought it was to do with his failed business

 

[dangandan]

is Cruden really that good that he's ahead of all other potential 1st fives in the country? i'd prefer McAllister as he's still got a good few years ahead of him.

 

[squirrel]

i think he gets a bit of the sympathy vote,though i havnt seen much of him so i could be a bit harsh

 

[madflyhalf]

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/7804315/black-carter-needs-ankle-surgery-weeks

Two things come to mind here.
1. Crap, Daniel Carter is out. That means Cruden will be donning the 10 jersey against Australia, which seriously jepordizes our chances of going unbeaten in the Tri Nations (and I so do want that)
2. Yay, Daniel Carter is out. Now Aaron Cruden can get a bit more game time against the top sides, which will put us in good stead for the RWC.

3. Does this mean that Carter is a human being??!

 

[woodward]

possibly to blame for his shoddy goal kicking form?

 

[squirrel]

has to, hes to good to be that bad

 

[nickdnz]

is Cruden really that good that he's ahead of all other potential 1st fives in the country? i'd prefer McAllister as he's still got a good few years ahead of him.

We love McAlister, but not as a 1st 5/8th, more of a 2nd 5/8th. Colin Slade is the only better flyhalf than Cruden, but Cruden looks to have a lot of potential. He has a poor kicking game, but he has a very good running and offloading game, which is effective for attacking rugby.

 

[dover_rfc_capon]

Watched Cruden play for AB u21's and played really well! Will be a good chance for him to get some full AB caps under his belt

 

[admartian]

PLEASE please please please please - pick Colin Slade!

 

[squirrel]

bring back nic evans

 

[Te Puke Thunder]

bring back nic evans

I'll second that one squirrel. Nick Evans was the obvious back up for Carter back in the day but I guess he didn't want to play second fiddle.

I think the next Bledisloe in Sydney is the perfect opportunity for Cruden to prove he deserves to be there. If our forwards dominate again he should go alright. It will be very interesting. I can't wait!

 

[nickdnz]

bring back nic evans

Apparently according to Evan's he wasn't even approached to come back, which seems to me to be idiocy considering the effort the NZRU put in to try and get SBW.

 

[squirrel]

i reckon they should have had at fullback for the 07 world cup he was fantastic counter attcaker,scored some great tries for the highlanders

 

[TRF_Olyy]

With the greatest of respect, i hope he's out for 11 weeeks
(England vs All Blacks in 10weeks 6days)

 

[woodward]

They'll probably start a back up to Cruden for that game anyway

 

[Shaggy]

There's a slightly long article on this in the NZ herald - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10668139

Graham Henry says "Looking ahead to the Sydney test, the selectors will look at a replacement player for Dan so we will be watching a bit of ITM Cup (national provincial championship) rugby over the next two weekends and confirm the player in due course."

It's likely that Arron Cruden will start as Henry has stated previously that he is likely to play/start in tests sooner rather than later.

They are also looking for back up at open side flanker for Ritchie McCaw ... I wonder if they'll pick an openside specialist to start off the bench next test

 

[nickdnz]

There's a slightly long article on this in the NZ herald - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10668139

Graham Henry says "Looking ahead to the Sydney test, the selectors will look at a replacement player for Dan so we will be watching a bit of ITM Cup (national provincial championship) rugby over the next two weekends and confirm the player in due course."

It's likely that Arron Cruden will start as Henry has stated previously that he is likely to play/start in tests sooner rather than later.

They are also looking for back up at open side flanker for Ritchie McCaw ... I wonder if they'll pick an openside specialist to start off the bench next test

For a backup openside, they'll have to go with either Latimer or Daniel Braid.
For #10 I see either Slade or Brett(yuck) being selected, or potentially Luke McAlister to cover 2nd 5/8th from the bench as well.

 

[cardassian]

Good timing to have the surgery now with the trinations wrapped up and giving plenty of recovery time before the rwc imo.
Also should give cruden some good experience playing quality opposition.