McCaw set to give All Blacks boost for Argentina clash

Carter, who has amassed a record 1,250 points during his 85-cap Test career, tore a groin tendon in kicking practice last Saturday, ending his participation in the tournament and leaving a nation wondering whether their 24-year wait to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy can be realised without the inspirational playmaker.

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said: “We won’t lose the World Cup because Dan Carter’s not playing, we’ll lose it because we haven’t played well enough.”

The performance of openside flanker and talismanic skipper McCaw is key to the All Blacks’ continued hope of success.

McCaw is poised to be included in the New Zealand team for Sunday’s quarter-final with Argentina, with Graham Henry set to announce his 22-man squad later today, despite taking a limited part in contact work this week.

Hansen added: “He’s great. He’s going to play on Sunday. He’s done plenty of training, it’s just the type of training he does.

“We don’t get him involved in the cleanout for example, the physical, hard body contact stuff. He does other training, it’s fine.

“People are going to have little niggles, it’s just how big a threshold you’ve got for that pain.

“We’re down to the business end and whilst we’re still in the tournament he’ll be available. We’re just going to have to make sure we do what we’ve done with him all year and what he’s done at the Crusaders and that’s manage it.”

Colin Slade is set to be handed the chance to fill Carter’s boots at Eden Park, with Hurricanes No 10 Aaron Cruden called into the 30-man squad to replace the Crusaders fly-half.

Hansen added: “Dan Carter’s a great player. Really disappointed for him. But what an opportunity for Colin Slade and Aaron Cruden. Crudes can’t get the smile off his face. One man’s misery is another man’s joy.”

Slade could be handed the additional responsibility of being New Zealand’s goal-kicker, but the honour could also go to scrum-half Piri Weepu.

Wing Zac Guildford is though likely to be ruled out by a hamstring injury. Hansen said: “Zac is very unlikely to be available to play. He got scanned and he’s got a very, very small tear and we can’t see that coming right [for this week]. But we’ll have to see.”