All Blacks name Dan Carter for northern tour

MARC HINTON AND TONY SMITH
Last updated 13:56 20/10/2014


All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has named Daniel Carter and Luke Romano in the 34-strong squad heading to the USA and UK on the team's November tour.

The sidelined Carter gets the nod ahead of Brisbane test hero Colin Slade as one of three first five-eighths, with Hansen saying the 100-test No 10 will get every chance to prove his fitness for the four tests on tour, starting with the November 2 clash against the USA Eagles in Chicago.

Slade may feel unlucky to have missed out on a place in the squad after he kicked the winning points in the All Blacks' last gasp win against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday night.

There was still a chance for Slade to make the tour though, with Hansen telling a press conference this afternoon that the utility back would be called in if Carter failed to recover from a lower leg injury which has kept him out of Canterbury's last three NPC matches.

"We've spoken to Sladey about the DC situation. We'll monitor DC this week and get an idea of where he's likely to be. If DC can't make this trip because of his leg then Colin Slade will come back in.''

Hansen said Carter had been training without being able to play after sustaining "a bit of nerve damage to the leg that he broke [in the Super rugby final in August].

"That's getting better and better all the time. He's extremely confident he'll be able to tour. He knows his body probably better than anyone else, so if he's confident, then I'm confident.''

Lock forward Romano has been included in the All Blacks squad as the 34th man, and one of five second-rowers, even though he hasn't played since breaking his fibula while playing for the Crusaders five months ago in Super Rugby.

Hansen said the 17-test lock would play "at least one game on tour and give us an opportunity to rest our two big boys in Brodie [Retallick] and Sam [Whitelock]''.

"We were originally going to take 33 players, but Luke's been a little slower coming back than we would have liked, so we don't really have a gauge on where Luke's at from a playing point of view... so kindly the Rugby Union's allowed us to take a 34th player.

"Luke hasn't played a lot of rugby due to injury over the last 18 months, so we thought it would be good to get him back into the All Black way.

"The key thing with Lukey is we want to get back up to speed with how we're playing and our skill sets that we're using.''

Other features of the squad include the return of Wellington loose forward Victor Vito, at the expense of Auckland's Steven Luatua; Augustine Pulu getting the nod as third halfback; and Sonny Bill Williams, as previously indicated, making his return to the national team after his switch back to rugby union.

Hansen said Vito, who had recovered from a neck injury, deserved the chance to return to the squad for the first time since the June series and "show what he's got".

"It also gives Luatua a really good chance to have a pre-season - something he didn't do well last year."

Williams last played for the All Blacks in 2012, though has logged time for Counties Manukau in the national provincial competition since his return to New Zealadn following the NRL season. He is signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Pulu is confirmed as the next halfback cab off the rank after being called in to the Brisbane squad to repalce the injured Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Hansen said Pulu would play at some point.

Hansen also gave mention today of Matt Todd, saying he was unlucky to again be omitted.

Dane Coles, who left the field during the All Blacks' 29-28 win over Australia with an injured shoulder; and Cory Jane, who suffered a head knock, were both named to tour, though may not be available for the Chicago match.

*USA at full strength for All Blacks test

The squad will again be led by the All Blacks' most capped player, openside flanker Richie McCaw, who will be making his 11th tour to Europe.

The group has a combined total of 1249 test caps and, as well as McCaw, features three of the other most capped All Blacks of all-time in their positions; hooker Keven Mealamu, first five-eighth Carter and centre Conrad Smith.

Three players, halfback Kerr-Barlow, midfielder Ma'a Nonu and prop Tony Woodcock, were not available because of injuries.

After opening with what will be an historic clash against the USA Eagles in Chicago on November 2 (NZT), the All Blacks play World Cup hosts England at Twickenham a week later, with Scotland (November 16) and Wales (November 23) to round out the month-long tour.

ALL BLACKS TOURING SQUAD

Forwards: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Victor Vito.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Augustine Pulu, Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Ben Smith.

TOUR ITINERARY

Nov 2 v USA, Soldier Field, Chicago

Nov 9 v England, Twickenham, London

Nov 16 v Scotland, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Nov 23 v Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/a...-northern-tour