Rejuvenated Dan Carter back for the All Blacks
A rejuvenated Dan Carter is back in the All Blacks as one of three additions to their squad named on Monday for the Rugby Championship, which starts next month.
A rejuvenated Dan Carter is back in the All Blacks as one of three additions to their squad named on Monday for the Rugby Championship, which starts next month.
Carter, who took an extended break at the end of last season, was recalled along with Charles Piutau and Sam Cane who missed the June tour by England because of injury.
It is expected Carter will immediately resume his customary fly-half duties ahead of Aaron Cruden, although he has been used at inside centre since his return to the Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby side in recent weeks.
The work [Dan Carter] must have put into his body ... to come back and not just play but play really well – he’s just done that and he’s nailed it
According to Carter's Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, the break from the game had done the 32-year-old a world of good.
“The work that DC must have put into his body, the conditioning, the mental side of the game, to come back and want to play at the highest level, and not just play but play really well and play to a certain standard he’s just done that and he’s nailed it,” he said.
Piutau’s inclusion in the 31-man squad will strengthen the All Blacks’ already powerful back three options where he will contest the wing and fullback positions with Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith and Julian Savea.
Like Carter, he also has experience in the midfield where the All Blacks frontline starters are the veterans Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu along with rising star Malakai Fekitoa.
Cane gets the nod as back up for openside flanker and captain Richie McCaw after recovering from a fractured knee in early June.