The End Of Year Tours (Autumn Internationals) starts this coming weekend and this week we should see a lot of news in preparation of these Tours. The New Zealand NPC is over, the South African Currie Cup has a new Champion, now the International stage lights up again!
The New Zealand All Blacks believe Dan Carter will be ready to face Japan and has also sent an S.O.S. call to prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen as cover for Joe Moody who was injured in the NPC Final.
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Dan Carter:
Star flyhalf Dan Carter is expected to start in New Zealand’s Test against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday, ending a six weeks injury lay-off and facing an unprecedented challenge to his place as the All Blacks’ first-choice No.10.
New Zealand seemed likely to play many of its more inexperienced players in Saturday’s Test – their first against Japan outside a World Cup – and to save players such as Carter for forthcoming matches against France, England and Ireland.
But Carter’s latest injury setback has changed that plan, with him now likely to play at least half a game against Japan before starting against both France and England.
New Zealand currently has an abundance of talented flyhalves and Carter’s absences have allowed those rivals to challenge his pre-eminence in the position.
Carter was once, indisputably, the best flyhalf in the world. He was acknowledged as such with International Rugby Board player of the year awards in 2005, after leading New Zealand to a clean sweep of the British and Irish Lions, and again in 2012.
But he lost the chance to emphasize the point when injury wrecked his 2011 World Cup and in the two years since he has been fit to play only 12 of New Zealand’s 28 Tests.
New Zealanders once thought Carter irreplaceable but, confronted with necessity, they have developed an outstanding group of young flyhalves who have grasped the opportunity to show their talent when injuries have kept Carter on the sideline.
New Zealand has used five flyhalves in Tests this season – Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Tom Taylor and Colin Slade – and Cruden and Barrett particularly are now nipping at the senior player’s heals.
“It is great to see the talent coming through and that adds to my motivation and wanting to get out there and to play,” Carter said.
“People are asking me if this is the end of me. It would be a different story if I was fully fit and they were still going with the other guys.
“That is the challenge for me and the depth of New Zealand rugby is really strong which I guess it hasn’t always been in certain positions. If you look at the bigger picture, it is great for the game and, as one of the guys wanting the jersey, it helps motivate me.”
Head coach Steve Hansen is thought to still rank Carter as New Zealand’s best flyhalf and is prepared to hold a place for him through his frequent injuries. Carter knows that can’t happen forever but he also accepts that after his last, long absence he might take time to find his best form.
“When I return, I understand that I am not going to change the world,” he said. “It does take a few games to get back into your groove.
“When I do play, I have to make sure I nail my core roles. If you do that, you build confidence.”
Jeff Toomaga-Allen:
Wellington prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen has been called into the All Blacks squad for the Test against Japan on Saturday.
This follows after Canterbury prop Joe Moody was ruled out of the year-end tour with a fractured fibula.
Moody, who was a new call-up, suffered the injury during the National Provincial Championship Final, won by his Canterbury side 29-13 over Wellington.
“We have spoken to Joe and he is obviously very disappointed,” said New Zealand coach Steve Hansen.
“He has just got to deal with the adversity the best he can and get back into a positive frame of mind and working hard.”
Toomaga-Allen was named in the All Blacks training squad before the June Test series against France, but had to pull out because of an injury.
Twenty-seven of Hansen’s squad will head to Japan for the first Test of the tour on Saturday, with the remaining nine flying direct to Paris for the second Test against France the following week.
Players heading to Paris: Tony Woodcock, Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read, Liam Messam, Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Julian Savea.
Squad for Japan: Dane Coles, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Jeff Toomaga-Allen. Dominic Bird, Brodie Retallick, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw, Luke Whitelock, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter, Tom Taylor, Ryan Crotty, Ma’a Nonu, Francis Saili, Frank Halai, Charles Piutau, Ben Smith.
Meanwhile, Aaron Cruden will also travel to Tokyo for promotional work and then travel with the squad to France.
Tour schedule:
Saturday 2 November: v Japan, Tokyo
Saturday 9 November: v France
Saturday 16 November: v England, London
Sunday 24 November: v Ireland, Dublin