New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is set to undergo ankle surgery on Tuesday and will be out of action for up to eight weeks.

The Crusaders playmaker landed 14 points with the boot as the All Blacks secured the Tri-Nations title with a thrilling 29-22 win over South Africa in Soweto on Saturday but has opted for surgery after increasing trouble with his right ankle.

"It's reached the point now where it is restricting his ankle flexibility and, in turn, affecting his calf muscle strength, so now is the right time to have surgery," All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said.

Carter will miss the All Blacks' final Tri-Nations Test, against Australia in Sydney on September 11, but there is optimism that he will be fit for their end-of-season tour to the northern hemisphere. The procedure will involve removing loose material from the joint at the back of his ankle while a bone spur would also be removed from the front.

"Given that movement in my foot is being affected, it's obviously in my best interests to have the surgery now. I've been in this situation before and understand what is involved so will get through the surgery and rehab and then look forward to getting back into rugby," he said.

Hurricanes fly-half Aaron Cruden has been providing back-up to Carter this season, making five appearances from the bench, but All Blacks coach Graham Henry is keeping his options open. He will take in some domestic action before deciding on Carter's replacement, with Cruden having been released to play for Manawatu in the coming weekends.

"Dan is the ultimate rugby professional when it comes to injury rehabilitation and, with the help of the All Blacks medical staff, he will be getting the best treatment possible and we look forward to his return to rugby," he said. "Looking ahead to the Sydney Test, the selectors will look at a replacement player for Dan so we will be watching a bit of ITM Cup rugby over the next two weekends and confirm the player in due course."

 

Scott Barbour's photo that caused all the fuss

New Zealand-born photographer Scott Barbour has been banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) from covering the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup build-up after he deliberately exposed the team's game plan.

The NZRU's official photo agency Getty Images, which employs Barbour as a freelancer, also angered All Blacks management after his image of coach Graham Henry holding the team's tactical moves was reproduced in Australia media outlets on Wednesday.

Getty Images is not allowed to send a replacement photographer to the team's remaining practice sessions in Melbourne ahead of Saturday's Bundaberg Red Tri-Nations match.

The NZRU has no power to deny Getty's access to Etihad Stadium as the match is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Rugby Union, though its representatives may be barred from covering next Saturday's trans-Tasman match in Christchurch.

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen described Barbour's actions as a "breach of trust" saying he broke an "unwritten rule" by photographing the blueprint displaying moves from lineouts and scrums.

Hansen maintained the leak would not jeopardise preparations or force a tactical review but that did not spare Christchurch-born Barbour from sanctions.

July 24, 2010

New Zealand boss Graham Henry has shrugged off Peter de Villiers' claim that referees are currently favouring the All Blacks, revealing that he doesn't take anything his South African counterpart says seriously.

De Villiers suggested during an interview with Australian television that the Kiwis are receiving preferential treatment from match officials because the powers that be want a winning All Blacks side ahead of next year's World Cup, which, of course, is being staged in New Zealand.

The outspoken Springbok head coach, who is no stranger to controversy, cited the refereeing in his side's two most recent clashes with the All Blacks, in Auckland a fortnight ago and in Wellington last weekend, as evidence of this alleged favouritism.

However, Henry is adamant that de Villiers has no grounds for complaint. ''I can't really take anything he (De Villiers) says seriously,'' the former Lions boss is quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

''The penalty count in the two matches was in favour of South Africa. I appreciate they had a couple of yellow cards; one was very warranted and the other questionable. But I don't want to get into it too deeply for the reason I just outlined.''

Henry also claimed that if anybody was guilty of breaking the rules in last weekend's encounter, it was the Springbok front-rowers, whom he alleged repeatedly bored into their Kiwi counterparts at scrum time.

'It is part of the South African game,'' Henry said. ''It is what they do all the time. It is what they do in the Currie Cup and it seems to be an acceptable part of their game. But I think it is outside the law. OK, it wasn't as bad as it was in some other Tests. But it is still part of the deal.''

The scrum is an area in which New Zealand are expected to reign supreme in next weekend's pivotal clash with Australia in Melbourne, given that the Wallabies were badly exposed in the set-piece by England last month. However, Henry is not so sure.

'They scrummed very well last year in the Tri-Nations,'' he said. ''Obviously this year they have had their issues with injuries leading into the Tri Nations … but they have got two of their senior front-rowers back so that should make a difference.''

© Scrum.com

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw was delighted his side followed up their opening day victory in the Tri-Nations with another impressive win over rivals South Africa.

The All Blacks took a firm grip on this year's tournament with a 31-17 win at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Rene Ranger and Israel Dagg all crossed for the All Blacks as they secured back-to-back bonus point victories after last weekend's 32-12 in Auckland.

And McCaw was pleased with the way his team stood up to the physical challenge of a wounded and aggressive South Africa side.

"I'm really proud of the boys," he said. "It's always easy to put one performance out there but to back it up tonight I'm very happy. The Boks certainly came to play and it was pretty physical out there.

"Defence can be a difference we had to defend pretty hard there and turn over the ball a couple of times and getting down the other end and score is what you've got to do in these games. When you're playing against the best in the world that's where you test yourself. To have two wins and two pretty good performances, we're very happy."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry stressed that his side's bold approach and willingness to run the ball from deep, despite the conditions and intense occasion, had gained its rewards. While he also revealed that their recent form owed much to their adaptation to the new law interpretations.

"We were prepared to play rugby from a fair way out from the goal line and were prepared to attack from our own half and that resulted in a couple of tries," Henry told AFP. "The new interpretation of the tackle law has changed the game a lot. It allows you to get continuity of possession and to build to score points and the guys did that exceptionally well."

However, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers called on the officials and lawmakers to show greater consistency in their interpretation of the breakdown as he reacted angrily to the defeat.

"I'm frustrated at the moment," he told AFP. "We've played now six (Tests this year) and in six games we've had six different types of plays on the ground. We've got the same skills as last year when we won the Tri-Nations, we're used to playing with the new interpretations in the Super 14 and now in the six games we've played the law was a bit different on the ground.

"Because I don't like to prepare guys to cheat and it seems to me that's the only way going forward if you want to be on top of those kind of things and that's 70 percent of your game."

The Springboks again counted the cost of some indiscipline with Danie Rossouw yellow-carded early in the first half. The lock bounced back to notch a try just before the break and flanker Schalk Burger also crossed for the visitors but captain John Smit admitted the sin binning had harmed his team again.

"You can't afford to lose a man that early against a team like the All Blacks," he said. "It doesn't make life any easier having that sort of handicap. I was happy with the effort out there today. We dominated the set piece . We won all our ball and some of their ball.

"We were much better in our lines and kept the ball, but we just weren't allowed too much fast ball. As I said, it is going to be once again difficult to analyse ourselves on a 14-man effort. We conceded two tries during that time [whilst down to 14 men]. It's a disappointing result but we brought a lot more to the table today.

He added: "I am looking forward to the first game where we can actually judge ourselves on a 15-man effort."

© Scrum.com

The All Blacks won't see Boks hard man Bakkies Botha again this Tri-Nations after the South African lock copped a nine-week, competition-ending suspension for his head butt on Jimmy Cowan.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry yesterday said Botha was "lucky" not to get a longer stint on the sidelines after his brutal retaliation on Cowan early in the Tri-Nations test at Eden Park won 32-12 by the All Blacks.

In the opening minutes of the test Cowan held Botha back by the jersey as the two contested kicked-through ball and at a ruck soon after Botha dished out his retribution as he aimed a butt to the back of a prone Cowan's head following a tackle.

The incident was not spotted by any of the match officials but was picked up clearly by the TV cameras. Botha soon after spent 10 minutes in the sinbin following a cynical ruck offence as the All Blacks attacked the Boks' line.

"I'm not surprised," said Henry of the penalty dished out to the 68-test veteran. "He's got a history. He's probably lucky he didn't get more than nine weeks."

Henry was referring to Botha's comparative catalogue of indiscretions back over the years which range from illegal charges into rucks to eye-gouging and biting.

Henry said Cowan had not been aversely affected by the blow, though he did pick up an abdominal strain later in the match.

"It was just one of those things that happen in a game which is not part of the game and has been dealt with correctly," Henry added.

Henry said keeping discipline in the heat of the battle was an aspect the All Blacks emphasised.

"We work pretty hard on the discipline thing. I don’t thnk that's part of the game," he said. "The Springboks will be a bit disappointed in that reaction."

Botha did not speak to waiting media after his hearing at an inner-city Auckland hotel this morning, and was ushered away by team officials, no doubt booked on the next flight back to South Africa.

Later he said via a statement he was devastated to miss the rest of the Tri-Nations but accepted the decision. He also apologised to Cowan.

"I sincerely regret the incident," Botha said. "I have let my team, my country and family down and I have done an injustice to the Springbok jersey and what is stands for.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry still rates South Africa the benchmark team in world rugby as he prepares to further tweak his starting line-up to face Wales.

The All Blacks travelled to Dunedin today largely injury-free and set to welcome back Mils Muliaina and Richard Kahui for next Saturday's Test at Carisbrook after a 66-28 walloping of Ireland in new Plymouth.

While the All Blacks cut loose to score nine tries, and run-on debutants Israel Dagg, Benson Stanley and Ben Franks all got a big thumbs-up from Henry, the Test was over in the 15th minute when Ireland No.8 Jamie Heaslip was sent off by English referee Wayne Barnes for allegedly kneeing New Zealand captain Richie McCaw at a ruck. It was a successful night for the Tri-Nations combatants at home, with the Springboks beating France 42-17 and the Wallabies holding off a spirited England 27-17.

Henry was impressed by the Springboks' performance against the Six Nations champions. "I thought they played with a huge physicality and a lot of confidence. The French struggled to compete in the physical contest. Obviously they're not used to these laws so that made them a bit apprehensive," Henry said.

"They (Springboks) beat us three times last year. Their two Super 14 sides were in the final and they played particularly well. I think that's a fair comment (that they are the benchmark side)."

The All Blacks have two Tests against Wales in Dunedin and Hamilton before the squad are reselected for the Tri-Nations opener against the Springboks in Auckland on July 10. While Henry introduced six debutants last night, with reserves Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito and Aaron Cruden all playing at least 20 minutes, the coach was intent on giving his entire 26-man squad opportunities in the next fortnight.

It means potential starts for Whitelock, Vito, Cruden, Zac Guildford, Piri Weepu and Aled de Malmanche; and openings for props Tony Woodcock and Neemia Tialata, and flanker Adam Thomson, as well as Kahui (chest) and Muliaina (calf), who played 80 and 50 minutes, respectively, for their Hamilton club Te Rapa yesterday. Lock Tom Donnelly's ankle injury will continue to be monitored, with two-try debutant Whitelock a capable stand-in.

"We want to play some decent footy that we're proud of and we need to go up another couple of notches from last night in the next test. But we also need to give players opportunities to prove they're good enough to be here," Henry said. "There will be another squad picked for the Tri-Nations and you don't want to leave players out who haven't had an opportunity to prove themselves.

"It's common sense that these guys have got to get opportunities to play. It's easy to say 'play 15 players every week', but that doesn't solve the situation you're in."

There were some "work-ons" for the All Blacks in Dunedin, particularly the set piece, Henry said. "We didn't create a great platform yesterday; we only had three scrums in the entire game and only about two-three lineouts on attack. We got beaten on territory, we got beaten on possession but we didn't get beaten on the scoreboard so they (Wales) might have learned a lot from that."

Henry wasn't overly concerned about his side's sleepy second-half defence which coincided with him emptying his bench as they conceded four tries in all. The new law interpretations at the breakdown, which the northern hemisphere sides were playing for the first time and suited the All Blacks' style, would see more tryfests and took time to adjust to, Henry said.

"Defence is more difficult in today's game than it was last year, much more difficult. The game is a better game of football, it's faster and the ball is regenerated at the breakdown quicker and that puts pressure on defences."

The All Blacks name their team to face Wales on Tuesday, while the Warren Gatland-coached tourists will prepare in Wellington before flying to Dunedin on Thursday.