Dan Carter and Tony Woodcock have been ruled out of the Ireland game due to injury. Carter left the field in the first half in the All Blacks 30-22 win over England, leading to confirmation of an Achilles tendon injury, while fellow centurion Woodcock has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. The world's number one ranked team celebrated four years at the top of the global rankings and they also remain unbeaten in 2013.
The confirmation of Carter's absence means that the 100-Test number ten will in theory begin his period of extended leave. Steve Hansen said that it hasn't been decided whether Aaron Cruden or Beauden Barrett will start.
"Dan has not had a scan yet, but Doc said with the problems he's been having it's just too big a risk to go through the week," he said. "We've got Crudes and Beauden who can both do the job, so we'll just get on with it with those two."
