KEY POINTS:
It isn't exactly the fatted calf. But Daniel Carter's injured calf is nevertheless the subject of fervent prayer today.
The All Black first-five-eighths missed last night's test against Romania and his World Cup fate is unclear - a situation of such national concern that at some Catholic and Anglican church services in Auckland today, ministers are planning to dedicate a special prayer to Carter.
Tuesday looms as DC-Day in the All Blacks' bid to have their star fit for next weekend's quarter-final.
The 25-year-old noticed a tightening in his left calf, his kicking leg, while training at Aix-en-Provence. He continued to train but when he woke on Friday, the muscle had stiffened up.
Coach Graham Henry was optimistic that Carter would be fit for the quarter-final at Cardiff, most likely against tournament hosts France, but said it was too early to give a definite prognosis.
"We don't think it is particularly serious, we're hopeful he'll be right for next week and we will have a further update on Tuesday," Henry said.
"The medical staff have looked at it and we decided it was not the right thing for him to play (against Romania overnight) and we'll see how he responds over the next two or three days and we'll have a good idea where he is at on Tuesday."
However, the injury has the potential to seriously rock the All Blacks' World Cup campaign, with Carter regarded as probably the most irreplaceable member of the squad.
Calf strains can be relatively minor or very severe, but even a small micro tear in the muscle can take a fortnight to completely heal.
If Carter has suffered the more serious grade two strain he would almost certainly be out of the tournament, with the injury taking between five and eight weeks to heal.
Auckland orthopaedic surgeon Joe Brownlee wasn't confident the star first-five would be fit for the quarter-final in a week's time.
"It's a matter of degree. Could be minor, localised muscle pull or slightly worse or a complete rupture of the calf muscle," he said.
But regardless, Brownlee said there was no way Carter would be able to mask the pain with pain relief.
"It's too sore. It's like a knife in your calf. You play as soon as the pain settles enough to allow you to exercise. You don't need to wait. As soon as the pain goes away you just get stuck in and do it. Pain is the only guide."
Father Pat Ward of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Epsom hoped the "miracle of prayer" could help Carter get over his injury.
"The power of prayer can be a great tool in times like these. If all New Zealanders get behind Carter anything could happen," he said. "We certainly need him out there."
The Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Len Boyle, was also banking on prayer to hasten Carter's recovery. His concern was that the All Blacks didn't stand a prayer - without a prayer.
"God is in everyone's sight. We all should say a prayer for Carter. He's a crucial member of our team."
The Rev Stephen Baxter of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland planned two special prayers for Carter at his services today. For those not familiar with prayer, Rev Baxter had some advice: "There is no right way or wrong way when it comes to prayer. It's just a case of making your feelings known to the Lord. In this case it could make all the difference."
Carter, the World Player of the Year in 2005, has not been in the best kicking form, missing five out of nine attempts last weekend, but is still the pivot around the All Black attack. The injury will come as a bitter blow to Carter, who felt he needed more game time before the knockout phase.
