Keen Carter likely to warm ABs’ bench

July 19, 2011

Filed under: fiji story — admin @ 5:40 am

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Daniel Carter wants to start but all indications are pointing to
him getting a run from the bench against Fiji in Dunedin on Friday
night.

Carter and a host of the Crusaders players, who just completed a
draining Super Rugby campaign together, are likely to see little
game time against Fiji and will then be rotated throughout the Tri
Nations.

“We’ll have to wait and see the team that’s named (tomorrow
morning at 7am) but I’d be pretty keen to get some game time
whether it’s starting or off the bench – I’m not too sure,” Carter
said today when asked if he would play against Fiji.

If Carter is named on the bench, Canterbury number 10 Colin
Slade, who impressed against Auckland on Sunday, will start in his
second Test.

Who will partner him at halfback again comes back to recent game
time with the Highlanders’ Jimmy Cowan and the Hurricanes’ Piri
Weepu likely to be named in the 22 ahead of the Crusaders’ Andy
Ellis.

The same applies to the rest of the starting XV. Look for
94-Test veteran Mils Muliana, who had an injury disrupted Super
Rugby campaign with the Chiefs, to start at fullback and for
Hurricanes’ pair Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith to reignite their
centre partnership.

Out wide the wing options are limited with Israel Dagg, Hosea
Gear, Richard Kahui, Isaia Toeava and squad replacements Cory Jane
and Sitiveni Sivivatu all battling injury.

The Crusaders’ Zac Guildford is almost certain to start on one
wing with Sivivatu, who took a knock while playing for Waikato
against Southland on Friday but ran on the wing at training today,
in a head-to-battle with the Highlanders’ Ben Smith to play on the
other flank.

Smith, who played his one and only Test against Italy in Milan
on the 2009 end of year tour, remained coy at training today when
asked whether he would add to his one cap.

“I couldn’t tell you that, I can’t tell you that apparently, so
I’ll just wait till the team comes out”, Smith said.

One player assured of a starting XV spot is captain Richie
McCaw. While he played for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby final
against the Reds and the week before against the Stormers, he will
be keen for more game time after missing much of the season with a
foot injury.

The selectors may look to start him at number eight and give one
of the supposed open-side back-ups, Adam Thomson and Liam Messam, a
run at number seven.

Whatever the loose forward mix ends up being, it appears likely
that Crusaders’ number eight Kieran Read and Blues’ flanker Jerome
Kaino, who both had a heavy workload throughout the Super Rugby
season, will only see time from the bench.

The Crusaders’ second row of Brad Thorn and Sam Whitelock would
fall into the same category, which means that rookie Jarrad Hoeata
will make his Test debut alongside comeback kid Ali Williams.

Up front, expect the Franks brothers, Corey Flynn and Blues
captain Keven Mealamu to be rested, opening the door for fringe
props John Afoa and Wyatt Crockett to impress along with veteran
hooker Andrew Hore.

Fiji named their team yesterday, with France-based Seremaia Bai
named at first five-eighth in place of the injured Nicky Little,
who bruised his ribs last week in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Fiji will also be without flanker Sisa Koyamaibole, who was
suspended for two weeks, and reserve pivot Waisea Luveniyali, who
was banned for four weeks, after being sent off in last week’s
24-13 loss to Japan.

Vice-captain Gabriel Lovobalavu, Kini Murimurivalu and
Talemaitoga Tuapati are unavailable because of injury.

Lock Leone Nakarawa, who is ineligible to enter New Zealand
because he is a private in the Fiji army, was not included in the
24-man squad for the match at Carisbrook.

New Zealand has imposed travel sanctions against Fiji, refusing
visas to members of the military and their families, since
Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a 2006 coup.

Carter, after watching Samoa’s shock 32-23 win over the
Wallabies on Sunday, is expecting a tough challenge against a Fiji
side who beat a second string Samoan team 36-18 in Suva 10 days
ago.

“It’s going to be a tough match because they’re always a pretty
unpredictable side to come up against and always extremely
physical, Carter said.

“Just watching them in the Pacific Nations, some of their games
they’re extremely physical and like I said with them being so
unpredictable they can score tries from the length of the
field.”

Possible All Blacks team: 15- Mils Muliaina, 14- Sitiveni
Sivivatu/Ben Smith, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma’a Nonu, 11-Zac
Guildford, 10-Colin Slade, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8- Liam Messam, 7-Richie
McCaw, 6-Adam Thomson, 5-Ali Williams, 4- Jarrad Hoeata, 3-John
Afoa, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: 16-Keven Mealamu, 17-Ben Franks, 18-Sam Whitelock,
19-Jermoe Kaino, 20-Piri Weepu, 21-Daniel Carter, 22- Ben
Smith/Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Fiji: 15-Iliesa Keresoni, 14-Vereniki Goneva, 13-Albert
Vulivuli, 12-Ravai Fatiaki, 11-Napolioni Nalaga, 10-Seremaia Bai,
9-Vitori Buatava, 8-Sakiusa Matadigo, 7-Akapusi Qera, 6-Dominiko
Waqaniburotu (captain), 5-Sekonaia Kalou, 4-Ifereimi Rawaqa,
3-Deacon Manu, 2-Sunia Koto, 1-Campese Ma’afu.

Reserves

: Setefano Samoca, Viliame Veikoso, Rupeni
Nasiga, Malakai Ravulo, Nemia Ranuku, Taniela Rawaqa, Metuisela
Talebula, Timoci Nagusa, Netani Talei (two to be omitted).