The All Blacks yesterday rejected suggestions that key players, including Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, are faking injuries to avoid playing Japan today ahead of a key World Cup clash with France next Saturday.
McCaw, Mils Muliaina and Israel Dagg pulled out of the Japan game early yesterday, citing injuries in training, a day after Carter declared himself unavailable with a sore back.
“There’s no truth to that idea at all,” coach Graham Henry said, angrily refuting suggestions that the problems may not be genuine. “Some people have got very fertile minds.”
Photo: Reuters
McCaw, who was due to play his 100th Test against Japan, has suffered a minor calf strain in his left leg, Muliaina has a tight right hamstring and Dagg, who would have covered for Muliaina, has an abdominal strain.
Hooker Keven Mealamu will now captain the side with Isaia Toeava starting at full-back. The forwards reshuffle sees Adam Thomson move to openside flanker and Victor Vito comes off the bench.
Meanwhile, Japan plan to put a stake in the ground at the tournament and banish memories of their 145-17 loss to New Zealand in 1995.
The “Brave Blossoms” have already won plaudits for their spirited 47-21 loss to France in their first pool match, but face the ultimate credibility test when they take on the All Blacks in Hamilton today.
“I think the game’s completely changed since 1995,” Japan coach John Kirwan, a former All Black winger, said yesterday. “Tomorrow evening is about being competitive. We’ve got a goal to be the most improved country at the World Cup and so that means competing last week against France, competing tomorrow night [today] and then winning our last two games.”
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