After making a return from an Achilles tendon strain, Dan Carter has suffered a partial rupture on the same injury and now faces up to six months out of the game.
The 26 year old All Black playmaker was injured in the final stages of Perpignan’s 13-13 draw with Stade Francais in the Top 14 clash in front of 79,122 fans at the Stade De France.
After paying 700,000 Euros for his services for six months; the French club now must resign themselves to the fact that the famous blood and gold jersey has been pulled on by the 2006 IRB World Player of the year for the last time.
He was pivotal in the performance, as Perpignan had trailed Stade by ten points with just eight minutes remaining. Carter has just kicked a penalty to level the scores before he went down innocuously in a seemingly innocent tackle.
He had already missed three weeks of action with the left leg strain. But despite doing wonders for Perpignan’s marketing and selling of Carters number ten jerseys, the sizeable investment for his services will now end.
His on-field contribution to the club was 45 points and 361 minutes of rugby. This equates to the Cantabrian earning approximately 2,000 Euro’s for each minute played.
If he had stayed fit till the end of the season, he would have played 20 games for the club. Essentially Perpignan has lost 75% of the match value of their prized asset.
It is likely that Carter will now miss at least the home international Test matches before the Tri Nations, and may even miss the beginning of that campaign.
Carter will now essentially re-enter the All Blacks fold on reputation alone, with no opportunity to play himself into form except perhaps for club rugby. With the rehabilitation of the injury a complex one, even when passed fit, the All Black management team may be unwilling to risk their prized asset until he can gain match fitness via non Test matches.
So while the injury will not be viewed favourably, it could ultimately benefit Canterbury rugby. Another option would be to introduce him back to international rugby via the Junior All Black brand.
However, as unfortunate as the injury is, not all will view this as a bad thing.
A massive door has now been opened for Stephen Donald, currently Carter’s “official” understudy. If he continues his development and his form does not suffer, the injury all but confirms that the Waikato standoff will now start at least the first four Tests of the international season.
It also means that if Donald fails to impress this season, then a host of young New Zealand number tens now have an opportunity to win a 2009 black jersey.
Colin N
Guest
If I was a New Zealand fan, I would rather have McAlister or Evans over the other 'up and coming fly-halves.' Having said that, there are a few talented players coming through. Colin Slade has impressed me, as did Stephen Brett, when he was played at second-five, but there isn't what I would call a huge amount of depth in this position.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Haven't seen him do a lot of running at Test match level, but fair point. The guy will be under the microscope with every Chiefs game. With a full Super 14 season behind him and the chance to take the reigns in the June Tests without being Carter's understudy, he might stamp a place for himself, but the backline didn't really click last year and may regress without Carter. In any event, it's probably an opportunity for two guys. Maybe even three. Someone has to warm the bench, and when Carter was out last time, Henry liked playing McAlister in one half and Leon Macdonald in the other. If MacDonald is fit and comes through the season OK, I'm sure Henry will consider him for the All Blacks.
Mark
Guest
OJ, Donald's a Chiefs player, they tend not to be 'just kickers'. I'm curious as to how Brett goes this year, he was pretty hot 2 years ago. Both Donald & Brett have a fair amount of potential with a few guys on teh fringe (NOT Weepu, great 9 though) so it will be an interesting year.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Worst case scenario is that Donald becomes a kicking first five and Nonu is playmaker when they want to run. Hopefully Donald is encouraged to play more expansively this year.
Bailey
Guest
^^ If your talking about Stephen Donald then no thanks!
Mark
Guest
Well, we wanted a good back up for Dan & Ritchie, looks like we'll get one at least.
Derm
Roar Guru
I'd say Perpignan will be hoping to sell as many Carter jerseys in the next month before the flavour wears off. And then Carter will get the bum's rush back to NZ.
James Mortimer
Guest
This was part of the original article: The incumbent “understudy” Stephen Donald, 25 years old, Waikato, 9 tests – first class debut Counties 2002 A product of New Zealand’s age grade system, he has risen through the ranks, cementing his position last year with a strong season with the chiefs and not playing in a losing All Black team. Player of good ball and kicking skills, without yet the poise associated with Carter Third in line to the throne Stephen Brett, 23 years old, Canterbury, 0 tests – first class debut Canterbury 2005 Bret rose to prominence with Crusaders in 2007 due to Carters absence with the reconditioning program. He is an excellent running player, still developing his kicking game; not a true specialist, playing fullback and second five. The bolters Willie Ripia, 22 years old, Wellington, 0 tests – first class debut Waikato 2006 Displaced Jimmy Gopperth as Wellingtons first choice first five in last year’s Super 14 for the last four games. Compared in style to Carlos Spencer due to his unorthodox running and kicking style. Idolises Stephen Larkham and has been earmarked as a future international Daniel Bowden, 22 years old, Otago, 0 tests – first class debut Northland 2005 Has had a poor run with injury in recent years, but when fit is an outstanding defensive player and a natural ball player, another product of the age grade system Colin Slade, 21 years old, Canterbury, 0 tests – first class debut Canterbury 2008 Coming off the Canterbury Boys High school production line, was exemplary in guiding Canterbury from pivot towards their 2008 ANZC triumph. Compared loosely to Andrew Mehrtons and has a magnificent kicking game
Brett McKay
Expert
Hope Perpingan kept their receipt...
ohtani's jacket
Guest
They might as well have him play the Air NZ Cup and take him on the end of year tour. If he heals fast, I suppose he could play with the Junior All Blacks. Ah well, it's an opportunity for someone else and a chance to see how good the All Blacks are without Carter. The Super 14 season will be all about NZ first fives, I imagine.
Derm
Roar Guru
Am not surprised by this. Carter went straight into playing with no rest-up that he would normally have had. He ain't superman and his time with Perpignan was peppered with injuries. Not sure if the 700,000 euro has been paid in full. I think the agreement was €X,000 per match. Still, poor value for Perpignan - they went out of the Heineken Cup, and have moved up one place in the Top 14. Perhaps this will be a salutary lesson to French clubs in particular that you can't buy cups or championships, even if you think you're bringing God on for second half.