Dan Carter - What does the future hold for him?

The following report from Rugby365:-

"Dan Carter's attempt to return to the playing field has suffered yet another setback.

Carter has been ruled him out Canterbury's NPC semifinal against Tasman, placing his immediate All Blacks future in further doubt.

The All Black legend has seen just 40 minutes of NPC action since he fractured his leg while playing for the Crusaders against the Waratahs in the Super Rugby Final on August 2.

The 32-year-old's return has repeatedly been pushed back and a lack of game time could count against him when All Black coach Steve Hansen names his squad to play the year-end Tests - in the United States and Europe.

Hansen last week said he would like to start Carter in their Test against the US Eagles in Chicago on November 1.

However, Canterbury coach Scott Robertson said Carter, who has been plagued by various leg injuries, is 'just not right' - after pulling out of training this week.

Carter was first set to return against Southland three weeks ago."

Since Carter's return from his sabattical he has been plagued by injuries and every absence from the game seems to be longer after every injury.   The question remains - has his body failed him?   It would be a pity if this player - one of the greatest flyhalfs ever - has to retire from the game - but his age and injury problems seems to get the better of him at this stage in his career.
Should he continue there can be some doubt as to his willingness to take contact and hat would remove an important performance criterium from this guys repertoire.   

 Yeah DC has injuru concerns. Look at Rafeal Nadal for a point of reference though.  He has come back so many times, to be #1 again. Different sports, but while his injuries may diminish his ability to take the gameline. Which made him the best. I am sure he well overcome it. Saw him play for Canterbury Three weeks agos. Diddnt take the line on often, but drawed players in and looked strong. Well see, 

Time to retire Dan. Why risk another meeting with Bissie! Also set an example for mcaaaw. Hopefully then wee matfiled will get the message and do the honourable thing and retire  - Meyer seems incapable of retiring him much like Hansen cant retire Mcaaaw or Dan etc
On what we saw recently Dan would only be playing second fiddle to Pollard in anycase.
Who knows maybe Dan could become a commentator - another Jiustin Marshall type - after all he was honest enough to confirm Bissie's tackle was legitimate. He might be the second honest man in nz!! 

 bluebok
In the case of Morne Steyn  it was virtually impossible for him to be injured.  He virtually never took contact and that makes for him to be injury-free.   A flyhalf standing deep in the pocket who virtually neer attacked th gain line - kicked  the ball away or pass the ball early - would be virtually injury - free.
Also opposing teams  never bothered to even have defenders lining him up - they drifted out in case he would pass the ball and thus putting the players outside of Steyn under pressure.   The only aspect where he could get injured is in defnese - but over the last two years his tackling was not good enough and he missed way too many tackles - reducing substantially the possibility of injury.       

 Beeno Pollard is a poor mans Carter. Please dont suggest an upstart whos no different to Goosen is better then the best flyhalve in his priime ever. Like i said pleasd hv a more informed opinion. When it comes to Wee Richie  You seem to have a very stilted, neptic view. Richie has been top class in the RC, world class please dont compare him to old man Matfield. If you posses any rugby knowledge, or education..You well realize that. 

 3ku1
It is to my mind way too soon for Pollard to be assessed at thi stage of his career.  He may turn out to be better than Carter in the long run.   In the first instance Pollard started his international carreer at a younger age than Carter.  To say that he is a poor man's Carter is pushing it a bit.
I was peasently surprised by the show McCaw put up in the RC.  He was good in his tackling stats - not so good in his ball carrying abilities and on the negatove side he tended to give away penalties.   He was not as good as he was 2 years ago - but is still a top loosie.   

 Greatest fly half ever, always sad to see someone that talented struggling with injuries even if they are a kiwi. Injuries to opposition aren't good, it will just make the world cup a little less special if all the best players aren't playing.

I will miss Carter. When he was lining up a goal kick, he always had that look in his face like he was whiffing a fresh heap of steaming shyte produced after a night out at Pravesh's Vindaloo Palace.

Haha Sharky! Too right! You in england by any chance? Proper pom thing to say

 Sharky
I think Carter will be missed in certain clubs in Cape Town as well.   He was a regular in some of the high sounding, but less honourable clubs where the dames flaunting their willingness to oblige.   

Nah - I am a Saffa living in the USA. I do have some Pom blood in me though LOL

clevermike - dames ?

 Haha, fair enough Sharky, I'm a saffa living in the UK so just wondered if you were here too!