New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has insisted that the team will not struggle to cope with the departure of a number of key players following their Rugby World Cup triumph.
The All Blacks will lose the highest Test points scorer in history and the most capped player of all time in the form of Carter and Richie McCaw respectively, while Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu are also hanging up their boots.
That quintet boast almost 600 international appearances between them, but Carter is confident that the seemingly endless supply line of quality players will account for the men making way.
"There are some of us moving on after this World Cup, but the beauty of New Zealand rugby is that there is a lot of depth and guys step up," he told Sports Mole.
"People thought [we might struggle] after the last World Cup. The typical trend is you don't back up winning the World Cup well historically, and the fact that we did that and how we have stayed the number one side for the last four years has been pleasing. It's just the icing on the cake tonight."
Carter, who missed out on New Zealand's triumph four years ago due to injury, scored 19 points and made more tackles than any other All Black to help his side to a 34-17 victory over Australia in this evening's final.
Barney Corkhill
