Wallabies to focus on Aaron Cruden in the absence of Slade and Carter - Rugby World Cup News
Wallabies are set to dismantle All Blacks No 10 Aaron Cruden in the absence of their first choice players Colin Slade and Dan Carter. The duo will miss the match due to groin injuries and New Zealand has left with no other option than to put Cruden in the
vital position. Both the kicking specialists have been suffering from groin injuries which is a cause of concern for the All Blacks management. Wallabies’ scrumhalf Will Genia told the media that his side will try to give a tough time to the newly appointed
number 10 in their upcoming meeting.
Dan Carter was expected to lead the All Blacks on October 1 as their regular skipper Richie McCaw was scheduled to miss the game following an injury. Ironically, Carter also fell prey to injury which later on terminated his chances to appear again in the
tournament. Carter is a key figure on his team and his untimely absence is a great cause of tension for the squad.
He was replaced by Colin Slade, who he could not maintain his position for long and got himself injured in the same fashion. Finally the kicking and the number 10 responsibility is going to be handed over to Cruden.
Wallabies’ player, Will Genia, praised Cruden for his past record and said his side will try to exploit him on a new role. He added that, “Aaron Cruden is a good player. He's an attacking player who likes to take the line on and he's got Ma'a Nonu and Conrad
Smith outside him and Piri Weepu inside him who obviously stepped up on Sunday. He's not the biggest bloke so we'll look to send a bit of traffic at him and wear him out a little bit.”
He further talked about the match-up and said that, “We're traditional rivals. Australians will always want to step up and perform against the All Blacks. It also helps having yesterday off and today off [training].”
Australia and New Zealand will meet on October 16 in Auckland in the second semi-final of Rugby World Cup 2011.
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