Champion All Blacks five eighth Dan Carter’s wait for his 100th Test will extend into November’s Europe tour after the latest blow in his injury-riddled season.
Carter is set to miss the rest of the Rugby Championship plus the third Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies in Dunedin on October 19 with the shoulder injury he suffered in a brutal tackle by Springboks hooker Bismarck de Plessis.
Carter lasted just 15 minutes of Saturday’s bruising 29-15 victory over South Africa in Auckland.
It’s the latest in a frustrating run of injuries for the classy pivot, who has managed just three Test appearances in 2013 and remains three short of becoming the fourth All Black to reach 100 caps.
The All Blacks begin their European tour against France on November 9.
“Hopefully, we can get him on the plane to go to Paris,” Hansen said on Sunday.
Tom Taylor, who went off with a rib injury in his Test debut against the Wallabies in Wellington in August, is the likely replacement for Carter in the squad.
The result at Eden Park leapfrogged New Zealand, the defending champions, four points clear of South Africa and Hansen repeated his post-match comments about his pride in his players’ efforts.
“It was a massive Test match,” he said.
“It was built up to be one and it came out as one. It was a very physical encounter and we stood up to that.
“We scored four tries in various manners and got a bonus point out of it, and stopped them getting one, so that’s going to be vitally important to the outcome of the championship.”
The tackle that led to Carter’s injury appeared to be a legitimate shot, but du Plessis got a yellow card for it.
He went on to get another yellow, and thus a red card, in the 42nd minute for using his elbow to fend off loose forward Liam Messam.
Hansen admitted that du Plessis probably shouldn’t have been sin-binned for the Carter tackle.
But as to whether the hooker’s sending off ruined the spectacle, he said showing discipline was part of the game.
“Bismarck will be disappointed because probably the first one wasn’t a yellow card, but what he did the second time was just dumb,” he said.
“You can’t elbow someone in the throat.”
Similarly, he described what No.8 and stand-in captain Kieran Read and second five-eighth Ma’a Nonu did in the last eight minutes to earn yellow cards as “reasonably dumb offences”.
“You have to accept it, if you do it.”
After a break, the All Blacks fly out for Argentina next Saturday, with skipper Richie McCaw, who suffered a knee injury last weekend in the win over the Pumas, a possibility to be on the flight.
TIGHTHEAD DON
Guest
Hmmm, perhaps too many scrums at tighthead?!! One again I will be gracious in defeat if the ABs loose to SA at Ellis Park, unlike many who have commented prior to me. It is great to see the changes that have happened in SA rugby, and I am really looking forward to the Ellis Park test. The images of 1995 RWC when Nelson Mandela went on the pitch to shake hands with the Springboks, and him handing the World Cup to Francois Pienaar, are still amazing to me. As an All Blacks supporter, even though we lost the game, SA & the world gained so much. It is still in the memories of some New Zealanders that our Maoris and Polynesian players could only tour in 1970 due to the Honorary Whites Act: Buff Milner, Blair Furlong, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. The great wing played as an honorary white on the 1970 tour. It is a term Williams dislikes, saying instead that he was a Samoan who represented the All Blacks. The All Blacks are immensely popular in South Africa, but especially in Port Elizabeth. The ABs played a test there, in 1970, with their “Honorary Whites” It was no surprise to see the welcome the ABs received in 2011, especially players like Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams and Piri Weepu. Ironically the ABs have never won in Port Elizabeth. “Honorary whites”... "As early as 1919, South African politicians and rugby administrators made it known to New Zealand authorities that they would not allow Maori to set foot in South Africa. This would affect successive All Black Tours to their country in 1928, 1949 and 1960. Only in 1970 would the Maori & Polynesian be allowed to visit the republic. This occurred only after they were officially labelled as “Honorary Whites”. Three conditions were set by the South African Prime Minister John Vorster; that there should not be too many, that no controversy should accompany their dispatch, and that the colour of the players should not be “too black”. It wouldn’t be until 1976 when Maori players toured South Africa without requiring any special dispensation." (Malcom Mulholand) The above is astounding especially when one considers that the first NZ team to travel overseas was not the ABs, but the New Zealand Natives side which toured New Zealand, Australia, Egypt and the British Isles in 1888. Yes to those interested, I suggest you read that great book by Spiro Zavos, ‘Winters of Revenge
Jerry
Guest
You grew up eating lead paint, didn't you Spooge?
trev
Guest
Was just about to write the same thing http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a51-vckZrIE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da51-vckZrIE
highlander
Guest
Michael Brial slip the mind did he?
WEST
Roar Guru
Carters hit was legitimate. He had rights to tackle Carter. Just unfortunate for Carter. He will be back. Bismark is a great player with great strength and aggression. A player I enjoy watching. He brings another level to the contest. It was foolish refereeing. And I was disappointed the way the whole test has been overshadowed by the ref. It was a great game. Next test in SA maybe it can be sorted. But there is another NH ref Nigel Owen. We can only hope its fair. Not to many punch ups. SA crowd will want blood.
woodart
Guest
your captain and coach are classy guys, can you try to be?
clarkeg
Guest
Neil, I am simply concerned with this offside issue. If du Plessis as you say is obliged to move to an onside position then can you tell us when he would reach that position? This particular instance was one of "general play". He would have been in an offside position had he been in front of, a teammate carrying the ball or, a teammate who had last played the ball. Clearly no teammate played the ball. He simply took advantage of an unusual situation. You have said Neil that you are a referee so it may be of help to this discussion if you can quote the relevant law/s that support your stance. Hey if I am wrong then I will be first to put my hand up and say so. Thanks.
Jerry
Guest
Apart from not being a shoulder charge.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Mania - the way I see it is the All Blacks are never the underdogs in New Zealand. Last week the Boks fans and everyone I know were simply looking forward to the challenge and opportunity to get a win over the ABs in NZ, and at Eden Park because they believed this 2013 team could actually do it. But SB were never the favourites.
Benny
Guest
In most of the games this year, the ABs tend to kick more than the Boks. It's a myth that NZ teams don't kick - the most successful NZ teams kick plenty and play territory rather than possession. But one difference seems to be that the Boks are happy to kick away possession in the opposition's half (e.g. a bomb from a free kick, attempted drop goals, maul then box kick from a line out) while the ABs prefer to keep ball in hand on attack. A few years ago we tried running from our 22 but gave up on it. The kicking sometimes works for the Boks but I get the feeling they would be more successful if they pressured the kicks more and figured out what to do with the ball between the ten metre line and the 22. I've seen Kirchner field a ball on the ten metre line and not know what to do with it so take a potshot at goal, which failed miserably.
Benny
Guest
Where was the offside line that BdP was allegedly over?
Benny
Guest
Where was the offside line that BdP was allegedly over?
Bruticus
Roar Pro
It was general play mate, Bismark was perfectly legal.
Starchild
Guest
I'm in the moment, dally M. Right now that is all there is. The All Blacks are world Champions in this moment.
petersa
Guest
What he was pointing out was that bok fans would probably not boo the blacks, just a difference in class I guess.
Mace
Guest
that was a world cup knock game. This is only a round robin game that hasnt decided the winners. The difference between both games is in the magnitude and the repercussions of the game. Its just pointless seeing bok fans pour all thier misery and frustration on this particular game.
Mace
Guest
MagicPronge, It proved nothing. There was no card. An allblack player was penalized and if you actually hear the commentators it was worth a penalty but wrong offence, You argument just fell apart. Well done
Chan Wee
Guest
SANZAR judicial officer Terry Willis has removed a red card from the disciplinary record of Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis. Du Plessis was issued with a red card after receiving two yellow cards during the match at the weekend between New Zealand and South Africa in the Rugby Championship. The yellow cards were issued in the 17th and 42nd minutes of the match between New Zealand and South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland on 14 September 2013.
Red Kev
Guest
Neil, I hope all you ref is U12s because until there is no offside line except the 22. Once the ball is kicked by Carter THERE IS NO ONSIDE OR OFFSIDE LINE UNTIL THERE IS A TACKLE (or a Springbok touches the ball). Du Plessis could have run to the goal posts, touched it and then run back to snap Carter in half from the other direction and he would have been onside.
darth Vadar
Guest
Meyer can start by dropping the "Maim key All Black players" game plan