Richie McCaw and Dan Carter to miss early part of Super Rugby 2012 - Rugby News
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw and first choice fly-half Dan Carter are set to miss the early matches of the forthcoming season of Super Rugby 2012 for Crusaders due to various injuries. Crusaders head coach, Todd Blackadder, told the media on November
2, that the duo will not be available for his side in the early few games of th echampionship. The coach further stated that it is difficult to give a time frame for their return at the moment as injuries could take more than the usual time to recover.
Carter had missed a fair share of Rugby World Cup 2011, due to a groin injury, which he sustained during practice. The veteran fly-half was ruled out from their last group match against Canada on October 2 but later on he was declared unfit to participate
in the rest of the tournament as the case was more severe than expectations.
All Blacks and Crusaders captain, Richie McCaw, who has been suffering from a foot injury since last year, also skipped a couple of matches of the world showpiece for the same reasons. McCaw was unable to participate in the initial rounds of Super Rugby
season 2011 and joined the derby almost in concluding stages.
McCaw is also told to participate in crown deciding encounter against France on October 23, despite having severe pain in his foot. He was declared the best leader for the All Blacks by outgoing coach, Graham Henry, for his bravery.
Talking about the latest situation of pairs’ injuries, Blackadder said that, “[McCaw] will definitely play Super Rugby. He sees a specialist on Thursday so a decision will be made after that. What will be key for us is that he takes whatever time he needs
to get that foot right because I know it has been a very frustrating season for him.”
The coach further said that Kieran Read will lead the side in the absence of McCaw. He added that, “Kieran Read stepped up and led the team incredibly well and he tells me he is pretty fit and looking forward to next season but he definitely needs a good
break.”
2012 Crusaders Squad:
Richie McCaw, Nick Barrett, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Israel Dagg, Tom Donnelly, Andrew Ellis, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Robbie Fruean, Ben Funnell, Zac Guildford, Willi Heinz, Ross
Kennedy, Quentin MacDonald, Sean Maitland, Tom Marshall, Patrick Osborne, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Tom Taylor, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Luke Whitelock and Sam Whitelock
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