Carter out as McCaw gears up for 100th All Blacks cap

Carter, who suffered a back strain in the All Blacks’ 41-10 win over Tonga in the tournament opener, was initially named in the starting XV for tomorrow’s game but it was clear the injury had not fully healed during a light training session, the team said in a statement.

“The key thing is that Daniel had been recovering well from a stiff lower back,” All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said. “However, he pulled up sore at an indoor training session so we have made the decision not to risk him for the Japan match and we will aim to have him back fully training next week in preparation for the France test.”

The All Blacks play their pool match against World Cup nemesis France on 24 September in Auckland and the news of Carter’s injury is likely to prompt some hand-wringing amongst New Zealand fans in the lead-up.

The Carter setback means a promotion for stand-in Colin Slade to the starting 15 while forcing a bench reshuffle.

Scrum-half Jimmy Cowan comes in as a replacement, with Piri Weepu cover for Slade.

The injury also took some of the gloss off the All Blacks’ team announcement for the match against Japan’s ‘Brave Blossoms’, which will see skipper McCaw become the first player to win 100 international caps for New Zealand when he runs out at Hamilton’s Waikato stadium.

McCaw earned man-of-the-match honours in his 2001 debut against Ireland and has captained the side since Tana Umaga retired after the 2005 grand slam tour of Britain and Ireland. The milestone was a “truly remarkable achievement”, said All Blacks coach Graham Henry after the team was released.

“His steel, his bravery, his ability to lead by example, the respect the players have for him ...

“I think, more importantly, he’s an inspirational person for New Zealanders, and the team, by being the person that he is and the way he plays the game,” Henry added.

Full-back Mils Muliaina has been recalled to the side to win his 99th cap, as he continues his battle with Israel Dagg for the starting spot for the rest of the tournament.

Meanwhile, veteran lock Bakkies Botha is a surprise inclusion in South Africa’s team to play Fiji in their rugby World Cup Pool D match in Wellington on Saturday. Botha has been troubled by a chronic Achilles tendon injury since he arrived in New Zealand and the Springboks’ management had suggested all week that he might not be available for the match against the Pacific islanders.

Coach Peter de Villiers, however, was forced to leave out four of the players from the team that beat Wales 17-16 in South Africa’s opening match. Vice-captain Victor Matfield (hamstring), utility back Butch James (hip flexor), winger Bryan Habana (patella tendon) and centre Jean De Villiers (rib cartilage) were not considered while Johan Muller will have a late fitness test on a tight hamstring.