All Blacks lose Carter as injuries take toll

All Blacks star playmaker Dan Carter was ruled out of the World Cup Sunday on a dark day for New Zealand rugby as the World Cup pool stages drew to a close and the quarter-finals began to take shape.

Carter suffered a serious groin injury injury during kicking practice and his absence has dealt a massive blow to the All Blacks quest to end a 24-year World Cup drought.

He joined a growing list of players sidelined in the gruelling six-week tournament with South Africa and Australia rushing in replacements to prop up their injury-depleted sides.

Carter's injury struck as Argentina completed their pool formalities with a 25-7 win over Georgia on Sunday to confirm their second place in Pool B and a quarter-final match against the All Blacks.

Talismanic

The All Blacks talismanic fly-half had been named to captain the side in their final pool match against Canada after Richie McCaw was forced to pull out of the game with the recurrence of a foot injury.

"Obviously it's a tragedy but we just need to show strength in this situation," coach Graham Henry said as team doctor Deb Robinson warned the "completely torn adductor" could see Carter sidelined for up to three months.

"He will see a specialist early next week to determine the next course of treatment for him, with surgery a possibility."

Carter's understudy Colin Slade was named to start against Canada with Manawatu's Aaron Cruden added to the squad as additional cover.

France, who will play England in the quarter-finals, also have injury woes with veteran centre Aurelien Rougerie in doubt for the rest of the tournament with a serious shoulder injury. Skipper Thierry Dusautoir also picked up a shoulder injury, but it was believed to be less serious than that of Rougerie.

Demoralising

Coach Marc Lievremont meanwhile revealed he felt a "deep personal failure" after his side's demoralising 19-14 loss to Tonga in what was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Argentina needed only one point against Georgia to confirm their entry ahead of Scotland into the play-offs but they made it heavy work of beating the plucky Georgians who led 7-5 at half-time.

AUCKLAND, Sunday AFP