Dan Carter’s Wellington jinx has continued after being ruled out of the All Blacks team to face Argentina on Saturday.

Carter strained his left calf muscle at an indoor training session on Thursday morning and will be replaced in the No.10 jersey by Aaron Cruden.

Taranaki five-eighth Beauden Barrett, who has trained with the squad this week, will come onto the reserve bench.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said Carter carried a calf niggle into the Test preparation this week but had been hopeful of playing.

“However, at training this morning it was apparent that he would not be able to play so we have done the sensible thing and withdrawn him from the Test match,” Hansen said in a statement.

The last time Carter was preparing for a Test in Wellington was nearly a year ago, when he famously injured his groin ahead of the World Cup pool match against Canada.

That injury, described by then-coach Sir Graham Henry as a “tragedy”, ruled Carter out of the tournament and opened the door for Cruden to play a role in the tournament’s knockout stages.

Cruden, who enjoyed an exceptional Super Rugby campaign with the championship-winning Chiefs, has made one start and two bench appearances this year to take his Test cap tally to 12.

His start was short but brilliant in the 60-0 third Test thrashing of Ireland in Hamilton in June. Cruden sliced the Irish defence to ribbons before hobbling off with an ankle injury.

Barrett replaced him that day in his lone Test appearance.

All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Victor Vito, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Ben Smith, Beauden Barrett, Piri Weepu, Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Charlie Faumuina, Andrew Hore.