Dan Carter’s New Zealand Comeback On Hold

New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is unlikely to play any part in this year’s Rugby Championship as he continues his recovery from a broken leg.

The All Blacks had been hoping that Carter would play against Argentina on September 27 or South Africa seven days later.

However, the Kiwis are not now expected to rush the 32-year-old back into action and are taking a cautious route regarding their star No 10.

He last played for New Zealand in November 2013 and assistant coach Ian Foster said: “Dan is tracking really well. I doubt we will see him in the Rugby Championship, but he is on track and we will see in the next week or two.

“He will certainly be coming back to play rugby at some point, it’s just a matter of how we integrate him through, whether it’s through provincial rugby or through us.

“We have some decisions to make. He is at the controlled running stage and we have just introduced some contact. He has been tackled a bit. So he’s ticking the boxes.

“We’re still probably a week away from having to make that decision yet.

“We would love him to have a game before he comes and plays for us so we will just see what evolves there.

“We have another week before we make that assessment and we will make our minds up at that point.”

Meanwhile, the All Blacks will play their first official Test in the Pacific Islands next year when they will take on Samoa.

The match will be held on July 8 in Apia and form part of their World Cup preparation.

It will only be New Zealand’s sixth international against Samoa and NZRU’s chief executive Steve Tew said: “We would hope there will be some money made for Samoa out of this match.”