Carter still pivotal to All Blacks

Dan Carter remains New Zealand’s premier pivot and will not be starting at centre for the All Blacks next month.

Recent reports suggested the groin injury that is continuing to trouble Carter may see the All Blacks ace relieved of kicking duties and shunted from flyhalf to inside centre – when they face Ireland in a three-Test series next month.

Carter, who has made a slow recovery from the injury suffered in last year’s World Cup, has been used at inside centre by the Crusaders to ease his kicking duties.

The 30-year-old Carter has already said he sees the move as temporary and made known his desire to continue wearing the All Black No.10 jersey.

He has now been backed by new All Black coach Steve Hansen, who dismissed talk of Carter starting at No.10 against Ireland.

“At some point he probably may have to play there [No.12], but that will be more because of what our bench looks like rather than where we want to play him,” Hansen told a media briefing in New Zealand.

“If he starts for the All Blacks, it’ll be at 10 in the June series.”

Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett have joined Carter as the pivots options in the All Blacks 35-man training squad.

Hansen also insisted Zac Guildford’s omission from the All Blacks’ 35-man training squad is down to form and has nothing to do with his previous indiscretions.

The Crusaders wing has lost out to Hurricanes Cory Jane and Julian Savea and Chiefs midfield back Richard Kahui.

Hansen said that trio have won their places.

“It’s really that those three guys have been playing better and Zac, if he wants to get back in, just has to up his game and get more touches of the ball and start scoring some tries.”

However, Kahui is in doubt for the June tests after dislocating his shoulder in the Chiefs’ 27-42 loss to the Reds at the weekend.

Blues prop Charlie Faumuina will also still attend the upcoming All Blacks training camps in Auckland and Wellington, despite being diagnosed with a grade two calf tear.

“I want to be playing, but just to be involved and to know what they do off field, the stuff they do and the standards and the discipline they have, so just to get to know that and be around that would be pretty awesome,” said Faumuina, who will be sidelined for four to six weeks.

Two of the surprise selections Steve Hansen’s first All Blacks training squad, Luke Romano and Luke Whitelock, were on cloud nine at the Crusaders training in Christchurch on Monday.

Romano, in his second year of Super Rugby with the Crusaders, had been tipped in some quarters after Hansen gave him a recent tick of approval, but 21-year-old Whitelock was a bolter.

The youngest of the four brothers in the Crusaders squad, Whitelock has started only twice for them this season, once on the blindside flank and at No.8 in the shock loss to the Melbourne Rebels last Saturday.

In all, he has made seven appearances.

However, his captaincy potential and playing ability were recognised last year when he led New Zealand to a fourth consecutive junior world championship in Italy, also making the shortlist for the IRB’s junior player of the year.

Whitelock, whose brothers George and Sam have both played for the All Blacks, says he’s unsure whether Hansen has chosen him to play a specialist loose forward role or as someone who could cover all three position.

“It’s a great opportunity for me and it’s about how I present myself,” Whitelock said.

“I’ll keep pushing from the bottom and really soak up as much as I can.”

Nelson-born Romano, 26, had never been picked in an academy or represented New Zealand at junior level, but repeatedly stood out for his High School Old Boys club before achieving Canterbury honours in 2009.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney introduced Romano to lifting weights to improve his physique and strength, and he progressed to Super Rugby selection in 2011 and the All Blacks squad this year.

Romano has added about 10kg to his weight since his amateur days and now stands at a powerful 116kg, and says his recognition gives hope to aspiring club players.

“I guess a lot of people may give away their dream once they’ve reached 23 or 24 and haven’t been in academies and such,” Romano said.

“Hopefully this might encourage those players to keep pursuing their dream.”

Sources: NewstalkZB & NZ Newswire