Nightmare for ABs: Carter out with calf injury

Friday, 28 September 2007

The All Blacks' worst injury fears have been realised with the World Cup quarter-finals just around the corner – star first five-eighths Daniel Carter has been ruled out of Saturday's final pool match against Romania with a calf injury.

It is unclear how serious the calf strain is to the key New Zealand playmaker, who suffered the damage at training yesterday morning.

He has been replaced in the starting lineup by Luke McAlister, who made his debut in that position in 2005 but has specialised at second five-eighth this season.

Winger Doug Howlett will take McAlister's place on the reserve bench.

It is unclear whether Carter will be fit for the quarterfinal in Cardiff next week.

A team press release said his fitness would be reassessed early next week.

Carter felt tightness in his calf following training and, after consulting the All Blacks medical team, withdrew from the final pool match at Le Stadium.

"Luke is an experienced first-five at test level. This will add to our options at the position while we take a sensible approach to Dan's calf strain," coach Graham Henry said in the release.

"Our goal through the pool round is to give game time to as many of our 30-man squad as possible. Dan has played two matches already so this has a pretty minor effect on our strategy."

Henry said Nick Evans, the team's other option at first five-eighth, remained at fullback to give Mils Muliaina (hamstring) and Leon MacDonald (bruised thigh) additional time to recover from their injuries.

-NZPA