Rugby World Cup fans backing Dan-less All Blacks

A young All Black fan with a message for Dan Carter and the All Blacks. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The loss of Dan Carter for the rest of the Rugby World Cup is a huge blow, but not terminal.

That was the prevailing view among rugby fans who packed the Wellington Regional Stadium and the fan zones at Queens Wharf in Auckland yesterday to see the All Blacks deal to Canada.

"The All Blacks are looking particularly strong at the moment. No one else can touch them," said Wellingtonian Caz Whigham, her face covered in black paint.

"They're going to go all the way. They've got other great players."

In Auckland, Mt Roskill resident Jean Rings, one of thousands of people at Queens Wharf to watch the game, was also confident.

"It's a bit sad for the All Blacks, but they can do it, they have got enough other strong players."

One North Shore mother, who had taken her 4-year-old and 21-month-old sons to watch the game, said her sympathy lay partly with Carter's fiancee, Honor Dillon.

"It's so sad. I feel sorry for him and even more sorry for his fiancee because she's going to have to put up with a very miserable man now."

In Wellington, Ton Pererira, a black flag draped around his shoulders, said: "The All Blacks without Dan Carter can beat anyone."

Lenata Pepa agreed. "We'll be fine. We're much more than Dan Carter." But she hinted that the All Blacks were now the underdogs: "Look at Tonga beating France, or Ireland over Australia."

She may have been wondering how right she was when Colin Slade, Carter's replacement, had his first kick charged down, leading to Canada drawing first blood with a penalty in the opening minutes.

Other fans in Wellington were cautious. "Of course we need Carter," said Brenton Palmer, "but I'm hopeful we can do it without him."

He was one of many local fans pushing for local hero Piri Weepu to be Carter's replacement: "Piri Weepu at first-five. Then we'll be right."

When Weepu came on the field in the second half, the stadium erupted in approval. The fans roared again when he coolly slotted a sideline conversion.