Three-time World Rugby Player of the Year Dan Carter will play no part in Saturday’s Champions Cup final with Leinster.
Carter was named on the bench for Racing with Springbok Pat Lambie set to start alongside Teddy Iribaren in the halves for the Parisians.
However, the former All Black has now been removed from the tie due to injury which means he will miss out on a chance to win the one major honour that has alluded him throughout his glittering professional rugby career.
LATE CHANGE: Dan Carter has been ruled out of today’s Champions Cup final due to a hamstring injury. Rémi Talès replaces him on @Racing92’s bench. #ChampionsCup #Bilbao2018 pic.twitter.com/6H7nUfgYyt
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 12, 2018
The New Zealand great will be replaced by French international Remi Tales who now moves onto the bench.
Leinster coach Leo Cullen and fly-half Johnny Sexton were both wary of the threat that the former Crusader posed off the bench for Racing with Sexton citing his performances against Clermont and Munster in the knockout stages as key to his side’s progression to this season’s final.
“He changed the quarter-finals for them against Clermont and also the game changed a lot when he came on against Munster,” said Sexton.
“He is still obviously a world-class player and I am sure he will be keen to make an impact when he comes on.”
His absence is now one less problem for Leinster to deal with in Bilbao as they bid for a fourth European Cup title..
