Why the All Blacks shouldn’t pick Carter

Dan Carter would still be good enough to go the Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks, but it would be a wrong move. Speculation has been mounting that either Aaron Cruden or Carter could return to the fold to fill the void left by Damian McKenzie’s injury.

Former All Blacks coach Graham Henry stirred the pot when in a Newstalk ZB interview he backed Carter’s inclusion.

No-one could question Henry’s claim that Carter would ‘‘add a huge amount of experience and intellectual property about the World Cup’’.

It would be like having a personal coach for Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga.

But would it be right?

Carter is, arguably, the greatest back in All Blacks history after 112 tests over 13 seasons.

Great servant. True team man. Unblemished test record.

The three-time world rugby player of the year is still – 16 years after his test debut – playing professionally in Japan. Henry heard Carter ‘‘played outstandingly’’ when he led the Kobelco Steelers to the Top League title.

But New Zealand Rugby has a longstanding rule requiring All Blacks to play domestic rugby here.

Carter left for France after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, having been part of two gold medal campaigns.

No-one begrudged him a chance for a few highly lucrative superannuation seasons with Paris club Racing 92.

Now he is contracted to Japan, where the Top League will be on hold as the nation hosts its first Rugby World Cup.

The Kobelco Steelers are Carter’s primary employers. Would they be keen on releasing a 37-year-old who’s just had neck surgery, for a short-term contract with the All Blacks?

To get around the NZR rule, Carter would have to sign to play at the back end of the Super Rugby season (which his rehab schedule may not allow), or for a Mitre 10 Cup province. He could then be snapped up the by All Blacks.

That might, technically, satisfy NZR criteria, but would it be morally right?

What about the fringe first five-eighths who have committed themselves to New Zealand rugby during the four years between World Cups?

Would it be fair if they lost their seat on the plane to Japan to a former great one’s one last junket?

Cruden’s comeback case is more complicated.

The former Chiefs co-captain left for France in 2017 for a multimillion-dollar contract with Montpellier. But he has not made the impact expected and there has been talk of him linking again with mentor Dave Rennie at Scottish club Glasgow Warriors.

Another option floated – since McKenzie’s serious knee injury last week – is a return to the Chiefs for the final rounds of the Super season.

That would also, technically, make him eligible for the All Blacks.

But he – and Carter – should only be considered if they are willing to commit to New Zealand Rugby beyond the World Cup.

The pair would still, in all probability, be better than the bunch of back-up options for first five-eighth.

But an expedient selection would undermine the integrity of the NZR rule and would send the wrong signal to the second tier players New Zealand Rugby is always so desperate to retain.

The ‘domestic players only’ rule has served the All Blacks well. Why unravel it now.

Brett Cameron, Otere Black and Josh Ioane may never be as good as Carter or Cruden, but they have stuck by New Zealand Rugby and deserve a chance to prove their worth.

In 2011, Henry had to tempt Stephen Donald away from his whitebait possie to become the All Blacks’ fourth wearer of the No 10 jumper at the World Cup.

But, how often does that happen?

Will Steve Hansen’s team need its third-choice first five-eighth in Japan?

If Hansen needs to spell Barrett or Mo’unga, he could always chuck a rookie in against Namibia or Canada – and hire Carter as a technical assistant.