Aaron Cruden to replace Dan Carter for final test – Rugby News Update
New Zealand has announced the squad that plays Ireland in the third and final test this Saturday in Hamilton.
The All Blacks have already secured the series by winning the first two games. Ireland lost convincingly in the first test, while the home side just edged out in the visitors in the last minute of the second test.
Their hero from the game Dan Carter, who scored the winning drop goal has been ruled out, and in his place Aaron Cruden, the 23-year-old fly-half will start his 4th game for the country. It is a big opportunity for Cruden, who has played 10 games
for the All Blacks, and he has massive shoes to fill.
Speaking about his promotion, Cruden said, "Last year I felt that I was playing some decent footie, then obviously I missed out on the initial World Cup squad. The coaches told me to keep with it because if there were injuries I might get a call in and,
fortunately for me, I was able to come in…”
Steve Hansen, the coach of the All Blacks said that Carter had pulled a hamstring in training, which ruled him out.
"On assessment, he has suffered a mild hamstring strain to his right leg which has unfortunately ruled him out of this weekend's Test. He will undergo further assessment over the next few days to determine when he will be fit to return to rugby."
Hansen was not taking the Irish lightly, and he feels that the visitors will come strongly at his team, as they would want to beat the All Blacks for the first time in 107 years. Speaking about the second game, he said that the Irish played with a lot of
heart, and he expects the same at Hamilton.
Ireland will be desperate to avenge the defeat at Christchurch, and the final game is intriguingly setup.
New Zealand:
Starting: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, H Gear; A Cruden, A Smith; T Woodcock, A h**e, O Franks, L Romano, S Whitelock, L Messam. S Cane, R McCaw (capt).
Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, B Retallick, A Thomson, P Weepu, B Barrett, T Ellison.
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