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| Dan Carter unlikely to start for New Zealand against England | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Of all the talk after the All Blacks’ victory over the US Eagles on Saturday – of a breathtaking return for Sonny Bill Williams, of a capacity Soldier Field crowd and what that meant for American rugby – to English eyes, one remark stood out. Steve Hansen, the world champions’ head coach, indicated that Dan Carter will not start at Twickenham on Saturday. | |
| After 50 minutes of Eagles endeavour and All Black tries, the best fly-half in the world ran on to win a 101st cap, two weeks short of a year since his 100th. A six-month sabbatical, a broken leg and a calf problem account for the gap. | After 50 minutes of Eagles endeavour and All Black tries, the best fly-half in the world ran on to win a 101st cap, two weeks short of a year since his 100th. A six-month sabbatical, a broken leg and a calf problem account for the gap. |
| “Without picking the team right now,” Hansen said, “I thought Crudes [Aaron Cruden, the starting No10] was very good. DC, you know, you’d expect it when he’s been out so long, he was nervous. But he’s played himself back into a Test match and that’s good. | “Without picking the team right now,” Hansen said, “I thought Crudes [Aaron Cruden, the starting No10] was very good. DC, you know, you’d expect it when he’s been out so long, he was nervous. But he’s played himself back into a Test match and that’s good. |
| “This soon, against someone like England, we might be better off giving him another opportunity against someone like Scotland. We’ll wait and see.” | “This soon, against someone like England, we might be better off giving him another opportunity against someone like Scotland. We’ll wait and see.” |
| Carter kicked three conversions from three and set up a nice try for Israel Dagg – his team’s 10th of 12. | |
| Of Williams’ display before leaving the field with a dead leg – to be called by one Eagle, with an admiring shake of the head, “a mammoth” – Hansen said: “It was very much what we expected. He’s a class footballer. He’s been excited about coming back to rugby and showing all the skills he has. They looked pretty good.” | Of Williams’ display before leaving the field with a dead leg – to be called by one Eagle, with an admiring shake of the head, “a mammoth” – Hansen said: “It was very much what we expected. He’s a class footballer. He’s been excited about coming back to rugby and showing all the skills he has. They looked pretty good.” |
| Williams, who Hansen said was “fine” and who answered a question about following Jarryd Hayne to the NFL with a deadpan “No”, was not the only All Black crock – the wing Cory Jane pulled a hamstring and may be out for two weeks, and the hooker Nathan Harris damaged an ankle. Asked about the injuries, Hansen’s reaction to the questioner indicated where All Black thoughts were turning, even if their words, out of politeness to their hosts, largely had not. “Strange you should be asking about the injuries, with that accent,” he said, prompting laughter around the press room. | |
| Much of the All Blacks’ work in the US has been geared towards England, and not only because games against the 18th-ranked Eagles and third-ranked English mimic the rhythm of a World Cup between group and knockout phases. Stuart Lancaster’s team are rising, despite losing their summer series in New Zealand 3-0. Senior All Blacks such as Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Conrad Smith, all rested here, are set to run out at Twickenham. | |
| Hansen was asked what he expected England to bring. “The same as always. Physicality. They’re looking to grow their game and run the ball with players with pace, and they’re looking to turn Twickenham into a fortress. They’ll be there full‑on, but we’ll worry about them tomorrow. This was a special game and we’ll enjoy the moment here in Chicago.” | |
| That the All Blacks did, as did Chicago. It has been a fascinating week in the Windy City, full of animated talk about where American rugby can go next. On Saturday, some US writers, sent by mainstream papers to investigate, seemed to see the heavy scoreline against their team as a dead end. American players, coaches and administrators – international ones at that – did not. | That the All Blacks did, as did Chicago. It has been a fascinating week in the Windy City, full of animated talk about where American rugby can go next. On Saturday, some US writers, sent by mainstream papers to investigate, seemed to see the heavy scoreline against their team as a dead end. American players, coaches and administrators – international ones at that – did not. |
| Talk of other visitors, impressed by the All Blacks’ adventure, was rife. South Africa were mentioned, as were the Lions, for a putative stop en route to New Zealand in 2017. | Talk of other visitors, impressed by the All Blacks’ adventure, was rife. South Africa were mentioned, as were the Lions, for a putative stop en route to New Zealand in 2017. |
| Stranger things have happened – like 61,500 people turning up to watch a rugby game at an NFL stadium. | Stranger things have happened – like 61,500 people turning up to watch a rugby game at an NFL stadium. |