Rugby: Carter to start for Canterbury

Dan Carter will play his first game for Canterbury in almost three years. Photo / Getty Images

Dan Carter has been named to start in Canterbury's first match of the Air NZ Cup rugby competition against North Harbour at Albany on Saturday.

The All Blacks first five-eighth has not played a top-level game since injuring his Achilles while playing for French club Perpignan six months ago.

It will be Carter's first game for Canterbury since October 6, 2006, when he played against Wellington in an NPC quarterfinal.

He played a full match for Southbridge against Hornby in the Ellesmere sub union club competition last Saturday, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in his team's 34-13 victory.

Colin Slade, who played at first five-eighth for the Junior All Blacks in Fiji recently, will start at fullback.

Also returning to the Canterbury side from long-term injuries are wing James Paterson and hooker Ti'i Paulo.

Both injured knees last October and have not played a first-class game since.

Five players new to the Canterbury squad will be on the bench - hooker Will Catherwood, prop Andrew Olorenshaw, lock Luke Romano, flanker Matt Todd and halfback Willi Heinz.

Also on the bench is Stephen Brett, who played for the Junior All Blacks this season, and Adam Whitelock, who played an integral role in the backs for the Crusaders in this year's Super 14.

Canterbury
Colin Slade, James Paterson, Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Sean Maitland, Dan Carter, Tyson Keats, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock (captain), Michael Paterson, James Broadhurst, Sam Whitelock, Peter Borlase, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Will Catherwood, Andrew Olorenshaw, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Stephen Brett, Adam Whitelock.

- NZPA