Israel Dagg
Dan Carter
Crusaders pivot Dan Carter is set to miss the Christchurch-based team’s clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
Carter hurt his leg in his side’s 20 / 10 loss to the Melbourne Rebels last weekend and although Crusaders assistant coach Aaron Mauger believes the injury isn’t serious, he said it’s unlikely that the All Blacks flyhalf would be considered to play this weekend.
That means that Colin Slade is expected to start in the No 10 jeresey.
Carter’s injury to his lower right leg is the same as the one suffered in last year’s Super Rugby Final against the Waratahs but Mauger doesn’t think it’s related to that problem.
“He just took a bit of a bang in the weekend, so it is a new injury – not too bad,” Mauger said.
“He just had a bit of a dead feeling during the game,” he said.
“Hopefully we will get him running again towards the weekend. He did a slight jog today which is an encouraging sign for us.
“But it is unlikely he will play this weekend.”
Carter hobbled around for 10 minutes against the Rebels after it looked like he had hurt his leg while executing a clearance kick. He was replaced in the 73rd minute and after the game he said he was sure he would be ready to play against the Highlanders but he has not participated in training sessions this week.
Mauger said Carter did not have any scans on the leg.
“None of that stuff, it is a new injury so they are just treating it like any other knock on the leg,” he added.
“So, nothing too serious.”
Carter did not speak to the media but Mauger said he was clearly disappointed”.
“But he’s a pretty resilient lad and he will just get on and go through the process and do everything he can to be right for the next opportunity.”
Even if Carter does recover quickly this week and starts running at full-pace, it is unlikely that the Crusaders coaches would risk him against the Highlanders.
“Just the feedback from the medics and where it is at to date,” added Mauger
“It is just cutting it a bit fine and what we want is a bit of surety going into this challenge.
“It is going to be a big one going into Dunedin. So we have every faith Colin will do the job.”
The Crusaders will unleash a needed dose of excitement and flair this week as they look to bounce back against the Highlanders after a poor showing last weekend.
All Black Israel Dagg is available for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Flank Jordan Taufua says after their passenger performance against the Rebels, Dagg’s personality is being welcomed back into the camp.
“For sure. He brings the energy back into the boys and we know what he can bring on attack and on turnovers, so we’re pretty excited to have him.”
Meanwhile, the Crusaders are happy to take business into their hands if off-the-ball treatment continues on Richie McCaw.
The All Blacks skipper was on the receiving end of 2 stomps in the opening round of Super Rugby.
Taufua says they’ll do their best to look out for McCaw.
“We’ve just got to back him up.
“We know he’s a hard man, so we have to support him – especially as a loosie – and try to take the work off him.”
Dagg is the only returning All Black for Saturday’s match against the Highlanders, with Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock out until Round 5.