All Black and Crusaders super star Dan Carter has given his struggling Crusaders team mates a confidence lift for the season by returning to training for the Super Rugby season.
rugbyweek
Carter has not played rugby since he tore his adductor groin muscle at the Rugby World Cup and has been out of rugby until yesterday when he began training with his team-mates for the first time this season.
The Crusaders star has started a unique kicking programme to build his confidence ahead of the fifth-round Super match against the Cheetahs on March 24 when he plans to play his first match this year.
Carter could have featured for the Crusaders Knights development team’s match against Tonga A tomorrow but he said the match is a little too soon for him.
“This week has been the first chance I have had to do some (team) training, so I think it would be just a little bit too early to play for the Knights,” said Carter.
“I would have loved to, but I am still working towards that Cheetahs game.”
The Crusaders will train for three days this week before taking a break for the bye but for Carter returning to training with his team mates means that he no longer has to complete drills on his own.
“The uncontrolled training means I can put a ball in my hand and not have to think about running, where you are doing your back moves, game plan stuff and a bit of contact as well – rather than having to have the physio watch me run lengths of the field.”
The Crusaders are being careful with Carter’s rehabilitation so even if he does return to face the Cheetahs there is no guarantee that he will attempt any kicks at goal.
Until he returned to training with the Crusaders he had not tried to take any place kicks but has now been instructed to assimilate his routine by kicking a small soft sponge imitation “ball”.
“Everything I have done has responded well,” Carter told Fairfax.
“I am still only kicking at around 70 to 80 per cent, so I am still building into it. I just can’t go and whack a lot of balls, unfortunately.”
Coach Todd Blackadder is hoping to have Carter back for the two Crusaders matches in South Africa against the Lions and Bulls but Richie McCaw is only expected back in mid-April.