Why Blues? MacDonald tells

All Blacks great Dan Carter joined the Blues in their training run in Auckland, New Zealand yesterday. His presence confirmed Blues coach Leon MacDonald’s message to the team on Wednesday that Carter was joining the side as injury cover for Stephen Perofeta.

“His motive is to give back to New Zealand Rugby by sharing his experience/knowledge with us. Great opportunity to learn from one of the games’ greats,” Macdonald wrote.

Carter, a three time world player of the year, left New Zealand rugby after helping guide the All Blacks to a second straight World Cup title in 2015.

Since then he’s played in France and Japan.

Carter joins current All Blacks first-five turned fullback Beauden Barrett at the Blues, after the latter left the Hurricanes at the end of last season. Barrett is yet to debut for his new team after taking an extended off-season break, before Super Rugby was suspended due to the coronavirus.

There’s speculation Barrett could play fullback with Otere Black impressing at first-five before the season was shut down.

Carter is likely to be on the bench, but if he can reach the levels of performance he has in the past, he could well push for a starting spot.

Photo: Blues Dan Carter changes to the Blues outfit in the changing room before joining the team’s training run in Auckland, New Zealand on June 4, 2020.