All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter has spoken for the first time since being ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup through injury.
The playmaker suffered a serious groin injury during kicking practice ahead of New Zealand's final pool stage match with Canada, but insists that his team were prepared for such an eventuality.
"We often talk about what-ifs, I guess it is planning for the unexpected and to be honest we have talked about this as a mini-unit in the side if I was to get an injury so we've really discussed it," he said.
"If anything, I encourage everyone to move on. I have and obviously I'm pretty disappointed but I'm now here to help the team and I think that is what everyone should move onto."
Carter also said that his injury was a great opportunity for his replacement Colin Slade to make a mark on the squad.
"I feel sorry for him, there has been a lot of talk comparing the two of us," Carter added.
"He's a great player and deserves his spot and now it is his opportunity to go out there and play his game. I know he's got the support of the whole squad here."
Speaking of the injury, Carter said that he recognised the severity of his situation the moment it happened.
"I knew it was serious because of the pain and because it was so unusual," he said.
"I've kicked thousands of balls, ever since I was a young fellow but I've never had this happen. After kicking a ball it felt like it popped hence going down to the ground in agony.
"Being named All Black captain is something very special and then to have that taken away from you through an injury and later to find out that my dream of being involved in a World Cup was now over, it has been pretty tough."
The All Blacks go on to face Argentina in a quarter-final clash on Sunday, October 9.
