The All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson has allayed fears about first five Dan Carter's back injury, saying he'd be playing if the World Cup final was tomorrow.
Carter will sit out the second All Blacks pool match against Japan in Hamilton on Friday night as a precaution, and Robinson is confident Carter will be fit for what looms as the pivotal pool match against France in Wellington on Saturday week.
In the last 24 hours injury has ended the tournaments of the English prop Andy Sheridan, the French first five David Skrela, and Ireland's hooker Jerry Flannery.