Henry hints at mystery rookie to join squad

Daniel Carter

Special requests from the All Black selectors will have Luke McAlister and Leon MacDonald turn out as first five-eighths in second-round NPC action but a mystery rookie may also be added to the squad this weekend.

Goalkicking utilities McAlister and MacDonald will be favoured to replace the injured Daniel Carter for the next Tri-Nations match at Dunedin on August 27.

Aaron Mauger is likely to be left in his preferred midfield role but All Black coach Graham Henry offered another provocative scenario.

"We may also look at someone else who is not such an obvious choice but I am not going to discuss that," he added.

That mystery candidate could be Tasesa Lavea, Stephen Donald or Nick Evans who might be introduced if medical advice suggests Carter will struggle to recover for the Grand Slam tour starting in late October.

The feverish scramble started yesterday when it was confirmed that Carter had fractured his left fibula and sustained "significant damage" to deep muscles and other tissues in his calf late in the Bledisloe Cup victory.

It was a day of drama with suggestions Carter could be sidelined for up to three months, an outcome which would eliminate him from the end-of-year tour of Europe.

Carter's diagnosis had a significant chain effect.

His absence left the All Blacks needing an immediate replacement for their Tri-Nations tests against the Springboks in Dunedin and the Wallabies at Eden Park a week later.

McAlister and MacDonald lead that list because of their test experience and goalkicking prowess.

Their provincial coaches, North Harbour's Allan Pollock and Canterbury's Aussie McLean, agreed to select both as first five-eighths for the next NPC round.

Mauger is being rested.

The All Black panel will also evaluate the longer-term contenders at the weekend.

Lavea and Evans should oppose each other at Carisbrook when Otago host Auckland on Saturday.

The following day, Donald should turn out for Waikato against Southland in Invercargill.

Henry said his panel had not nailed down who would replace Carter.

"We will have to spend a fair bit of time during this week talking it through," he said.

"But McAlister could go there, although we tend to think he might be better one place further out while MacDonald was going to play there in the third test against the Lions until he was injured.

"We think Mauger has the psyche of a second five-eighths and prefers it there."

Henry stayed in Sydney for an extra day after the All Blacks' 30-13 triumph to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

He found out the true extent of Carter's damaged lower left leg shortly before he flew home.

"Hopefully it is only a six-week injury, but there is no guarantee of that.

"However, if he recovers and Canterbury stay true to form and get through to the latter stages of the NPC then Daniel [Carter] should be able to get some matches in before the All Black tour," the coach said.

Carter appeared to fracture his leg in a tackle on Elton Flatley about 11 minutes from the end of the Sydney international.

After an x-ray and MRI scan yesterday, All Black doctor Graham Paterson said Carter's leg would be immobilised and he would be on bed rest.

Surgery was unlikely but the five-eighths could be out of rugby for between six and 12 weeks.

The longer timeframe will eat into his All Black prospects for the opening November 5 test against Wales on the end-of-year tour.

The 23-year-old Carter began his test career as a first five-eighths on last year's tour to Europe when he was picked ahead of Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens.