All Blacks superstar fly-half Dan Carter will start at center for their Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in Hong Kong on Saturday, as coach Graham Henry looks to rebuild his depleted squad.
Carter, who will move to French club Perpignan after New Zealand’s tour of Hong Kong and Europe, will start at number 12 with Stephen Donald playing in the number 10 jersey, Henry said yesterday.
“We thought it was important to try and get two navigators on the field, because of their lack of rugby over the last five or six weeks,” Henry told reporters in Hong Kong.
PHOTO: AP
“Two playmakers, two navigators, we thought early in the game that would be helpful. [The move] also gives some flexibility with a right footer and a left footer to change various things during the game if you want to do so,” Henry said.
Australia coach Robbie Deans said he was “not surprised” by the move, adding that it would not affect his own team selection.
“I had a wee suspicion they were looking at that area. That worked well for them late in the Test in Brisbane,” Deans said. “I’m not surprised. I had an inkling they were considering that line-up.”
The All Blacks begin a grueling tour on Saturday, before matches against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England on consecutive Saturdays and a midweek match against European champions Munster.
Henry said the tour was about new players making the step up to Test level after a string of high-profile retirements, defections and injuries since the World Cup last year.
“This tour is about building some depth in the team,” Henry said.
Winger Hosea Gear, the younger brother of former All Black Rico, will make his debut on Saturday after impressing Henry with a string of strong performances.
“He has been on fine form. He has scored lots of tries and he is explosive. He is in great shape at the moment,” Henry said.
Australia are to announce their team tomorrow.
New Zealand are assured of retaining the Bledisloe Cup after taking an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series.
The All Blacks team named yesterday to play Australia in their Bledisloe Cup rugby Test in Hong Kong on Saturday:
Mils Muliaina, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Anthony Boric, Adam Thompson, Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Isaia Toeava.
■ BORTHWICK IN CHARGE
AFP, LONDON
The Saracens’ Steve Borthwick has been chosen as the new captain of the England Rugby Union team, manager Martin Johnson announced on Monday.
The 29-year-old, like 2003 England World Cup-winning captain Johnson a lock, led the national side during their June tour of New Zealand in the absence through injury of Phil Vickery, having previously captained the team when the prop was taken ill on the morning of this year’s Six Nations match away to Italy in Rome.
Defeats in both Tests against the All Blacks were overshadowed by allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against several England players. Borthwick was one of the few players to emerge with credit and with his England place looking increasingly assured after a previously stop-start Test career, and boasting a good fitness record, Johnson has handed him the leadership on an open-ended basis.
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