All Blacks veteran Dan Carter’s chances of playing against Australia next week have dive-bombed following more injury problems.
Carter, 32, is ruled out of Sunday’s NPC game for Canterbury against Taranaki because of pain in his right shin, continuing a drawn-out injury struggle since returning from a six-month break in June.
The niggle is related to a leg fracture Carter suffered in the Super Rugby final on August 2, which has reduced the world record Test pointscorer to just 40 minutes of NPC rugby since.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said he would consider selecting Carter for the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on Saturday next week, but, with virtually no rugby under his belt, that is now highly unlikely.
Canterbury coach Scott Robertson told The Press Carter will be considered to play in their semi-final on the same weekend as the Test.
Carter’s last All Blacks test – his 100th – was against England in London 11 months ago.