Fears of broken leg for Carter

All Black first five-eighths Daniel Carter may have broken his left leg.

That spectre was raised last night by the side's medical staff after the Bledisloe Cup combat in Sydney.

Other injury possibilities were a torn calf muscle or severe bruising.

The five-eighths was in agony after a collision, and he was carried from Telstra Stadium late in the test.

Carter will have x-rays and an MRI scan today to determine the exact extent of his injury, which left him uncomfortable and resting yesterday at home, according to team doctor Graham Paterson.

If Carter cannot play at Carisbrook against the Springboks in a fortnight, there should be a lively discussion about the alternative. There are probably three contenders.

Aaron Mauger, who took over on Saturday, is probably the lead candidate. Strangely, he kicked away a lot of possession in the last five minutes when the All Blacks held a healthy 30-13 lead and should have been chasing a vital offshore bonus point.

Next choice would be Leon MacDonald, who was earmarked for that work in the third test against the Lions before he also withdrew because of injury. Youngster Luke McAlister would be a further option, but his more immediate test future may lie in midfield where he was used as a late replacement on Saturday.

Interestingly the All Black panel has released MacDonald and McAlister for second-round NPC duty this weekend. There has been no attempt to cotton-wool that pair, nor others such as Carl Hayman, who started both Tri-Nations tests but missed the final two tests of the Lions series because of injury. Those All Black squad members released for this weekend are John Afoa, Hayman, Marty Holah, Sione Lauaki, McAlister, MacDonald, Joe Rokocoko, James Ryan, Kevin Senio, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Greg Somerville and Derren Witcombe.

Concussed halfback Byron Kelleher is apparently still recuperating. If he is fit, Kelleher should return to meet the Boks. Understudy Piri Weepu has distributed well, but some of his decisions are not nearly as sharp.

He was not alone on Saturday. Against a top-drawer opponent, it would have been fatal to concede such a large start and criminal to botch at least five tries.

In his captain's pre-match analysis Tana Umaga noted that in top-calibre tests, teams might get a rare try-scoring chance. Quality sides took them.

The All Blacks were creative enough to generate many decent chances, but the coaching staff will look at the bunch they butchered. "Our tries came from turnovers," Umaga conceded.

His All Blacks had been unable to finish tries they looked to construct. Recycled wing Rokocoko looked better, "back to where he was the last time he wore the All Blacks jersey", assistant coach Wayne Smith enthused. While his pace and involvement had improved, cousin Sitiveni Sivivatu may still have a better all-round game. If he can recover from his leg problem, the relatives' selection duel for Dunedin will be fascinating. Both may get a start.

The All Black scrum reasserted itself, the lineout staggered early and although it steadied eventually that arena will be a worry against the Boks who play the Wallabies first, this Saturday in Perth.

Richie McCaw was a rampaging threat after missing the corresponding game last year. His impact is worth 10 points every match.

Jerry Collins was fearsome. He punishes himself and his foes. The damage he inflicts has a cumulative effect late in a match. Collins leads the defensive line. He busts any lazy defence, and he is the workaholic template. He works on the basics, areas where the All Blacks must pay more attention if they are to overturn the Springboks at Carisbrook.

* The NZRU wants to play all its 2011 World Cup games in New Zealand. There was some suggestion a semifinal might be staged in Sydney to increase the RWC revenue.

However NZRU officials have told their Australian counterparts that if they win the bid to hold the tournament, they will hold all games in New Zealand