New Zealand 79 - 15 Canada: Dark day as All Blacks lose Dan Carter for rest of World Cup

ON ANY normal day, Ireland beating Italy to top a World Cup group containing Australia would spark celebrations across New Zealand.As soon as All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter was ruled out of the World Cup with a tournament-ending groin injury, though, yesterday was always going to be gloomy in the host nation.

Given it was only hours after the Carter announcement, the main domestic interest in New Zealand’s 12-try, 79-15 thrashing of Canada was on how Colin Slade performed at fly-half.

Carter has scored an international record 1,250 Test points and is the best No 10 in world rugby. The lack of an understudy for the 29-year-old pivot has long been seen as the Achilles heel of the All Blacks’ World Cup campaign, so the worst fears of a New Zealand public desperate to end a World Cup drought have been realised.

All Blacks fans may not yet be convinced of Slade’s credentials for the high-pressure knockout rounds, but coach Graham Henry expressed full confidence.

“Going forward… well, Colin Slade’s the boy,” Henry said. “He played pretty well for a large part of the game today. He just needs more football, so the more times we can get him out there the better he’s going to be.”