Crusaders boosted by Carter’s return

Dan Carter says that he has recovered from his calf injury and that he will play the Waratahs on Thursday night this week.

The match will be Carter’s first under the new Experimental Law Variations (ELV’s) which have been brought in for the Super 14.

Carter needs to get up to speed with the ELV’s because the Crusaders open their 2008 Super 14 against the Brumbies on the 15th of February at AMI Stadium.

“Over the last couple of years teams have been a bit more defence orientated. I will definitely help to set backline moves up, rather than having the defence up on us so quick.”

“I have been doing a bit of running, getting physio and lots of calf raises,” Carter told The Press this week.

“Last week I was running for about 20 to 30 minutes in sessions. I would say I am running up to 80 to 90 per cent of what I am capable of and expect to up be up to 100 soon.”

Carter’s injury forced him to miss the Crusaders warm up against the Hurricanes and Western Force.

“It was touch and go that I would play in Melbourne, so it’s over almost right.”