26 Feb 2009

Carter may well be out for rest of year

2:32 pm on 26 February 2009

The All Blacks first-five Dan Carter's chances of being available for Test rugby this year don't look good.

The team's doctor says Carter's recovering well three weeks after an operation in Paris on the Achilles tendon he partially tore playing for Perpignan at the start of the month.

Deb Robinson says he'll be in a moon boot for another five weeks, although he could be playing within six months.

However Robinson says it takes some time for players to get back to their best after this type of injury.

Meanwhile Graham Henry has hinted that Luke McAlister could return to New Zealand rugby when his contract with Sale ends after the season in England.