Well in Dan Carter's case, Nick Evans was a definate option. It's a pity the NZRU did nothing to hold on to him because he would have continued to make an outstanding All Black if he had stuck around longer.
Seriously though... if you have to ask who do you replace him with DURING the World Cup, then you really need to rethink how your coaches are operating! South Africa knew they needed a back-up fetcher in case brussouw got injured and they Brought in Francois Louw who did a pretty good job when he was on the pitch...
Mccaw's back-up should already have been in the damn squad from the start!!
If you guys choke this weekend, it will be your own dumb-ass fault this time!
Seriously though... if you have to ask who do you replace him with DURING the World Cup, then you really need to rethink how your coaches are operating! South Africa knew they needed a back-up fetcher in case brussouw got injured and they Brought in Francois Louw who did a pretty good job when he was on the pitch...
Mccaw's back-up should already have been in the damn squad from the start!!
If you guys choke this weekend, it will be your own dumb-a55 fault this time!
[URL="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5778550/Hansen-denies-Todd-in-as-cover-for-McCaw"]Forwards coach Steve Hansen has predictably attempted to gun down speculation that Matt Todd has joined the All Blacks squad because of increased concerns about Richie McCaw's sore right foot.
[/URL]Canterbury openside flanker Todd yesterday joined the All Blacks at training as they prepare for Sunday night's World Cup semifinal against the Wallabies at Eden Park and is expected to be hauled in for more practices this week.
Captain and openside flanker McCaw continues to be irritated by the screw in the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot and his appearances at training ahead of the semi are expected to be limited to just a light run about during Saturday's captain's run at Eden Park.
Adding to the All Blacks injury concerns was the revelation that versatile loose forward Adam Thomson - who was selected as the back-up to No 7 McCaw - is also in doubt; he will have a fitness test this morning to ascertain whether his ankle problem will rule him out of the semi.
Thomson did not play in the quarterfinal win against Argentina last weekend because of the injury but Hansen said he trained yesterday.
If Thomson is declared unfit, Victor Vito is expected to be named on the bench as cover for McCaw when the team is released tomorrow.
"Richie McCaw's foot is fine,'' a bullish Hansen declared. "Matt Todd is training with us, as you all know.''
News that Todd yesterday joined the All Blacks squad inflamed fears McCaw could be in doubt for the semi and his tender foot has become the most talked about limb in New Zealand.
Todd, who started in the absence of McCaw when the same injury interrupted the majority of the Crusaders' Super campaign, is a member of the All Blacks wider training group.
This is a list of players who are on standby during the tournament.
Todd also joined the All Blacks at training when they trained in Christchurch before their pool match against France in Auckland last month.
International Rugby Board rules state players cannot be brought into the squad unless they are an official replacement.
This means Todd can only be used as a member of the opposition during trainings, although the closed sessions mean this is difficult for any outsiders to verify.
Todd, said Hansen, was staying with a sister of his girlfriend in Auckland.
"Matt Todd is in Auckland and it just made commonsense to have him here,'' Hansen added.
"Now that does not mean to say Richie's foot is worse than it was. It does not mean Richie is not playing on Saturday, it just means Matt Todd was in Auckland and we wanted to use him in training as opposition.''
But the fact that Todd has just rocked up to Auckland at the same time loose forwards McCaw and Thomson have been battling injuries ahead of this crucial fixture seems too much of a coincidence than to be just good timing.
longest most nerve racking week ever. c'mon already, i just want to know the result.
longest most nerve racking week ever. c'mon already, i just want to know the result.
in all fairness, Evans was on radio sport a couple of months ago and they asked him that, his answer was he didn't want to be someone elses back up for his entire career and that going to europe was the right decision for his family, he also said the NZRU did everything they could short of promissing him the 10 jersey (paraphrasing)
Personally i think it was his own fault, when he came south he made this big call "i'm a first five and i want to be the all black first five". this was at a time when Mils had yet to hit his straps at full back and the ab's were calling out for class back there. I think he could have easilly made the 15 jersey his right through until Dagg arriving on the scene and covered carter from there
longest most nerve racking week ever. c'mon already, i just want to know the result.
I prefer Mealamu to Hore. Mealamu is more brutal and that's what we need against these damn Wallabies.I like your starting team, I'd just swap Hore for Mealamu
Bench
16. Mealamu
17. Franks
18. A. Williams
19. Vito
20. Ellis
21. Toeava
22. SB. Williams