Former Welsh captain Gareth Edwards has told Newstalk ZB the Rugby World Cup has been "robbed" of a fantastic player.
Edwards said losing playmaker Dan Carter was New Zealand's "worst nightmare".
"We all know what a key player Dan Carter has been for the last few years. That's not tosay New Zealand will be a poor side without him - far from it.
"But, of course, he's been very much your catalyst, your orchestra leader - he's a conductor, isn't he? And obviously he is a major points contributor to the New Zealand machine."
He said the question now is whether the team will react in a positive manner and use Carter's circumstances to bring them together.
"You've got very capable players to take his place and wonderful players in the backline. I just think it makes their task that much more difficult. I think it was virtually a foregone conclusion that it was your tournament to lose.
"It's a sad loss for rugby, as well as New Zealand."
