Dan Carter faces the media just a day after it was confirmed that his RWC is over © Getty Images

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Matches: New Zealand 33 - 10 Argentina

Players/Officials: Dan Carter

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: Canada | New Zealand

Dan Carter has expressed his devastation at seeing his hopes of inspiring the All Blacks to World Cup glory dashed by injury.

The New Zealand fly-half was selected to lead his country in Sunday's Pool A clash with Canada in the absence of Richie McCaw but he broke down in training on the eve of the game with a groin problem.

Subsequent scans revealed a tear which has ruled Carter out of the rest of the tournament. The Crusaders ace admitted in his first public appearance on Monday that he feared the worst immediately.

"I knew it was pretty serious just because of the pain," Carter said. "After kicking a ball it just popped and I went down on the ground in agony.

"Obviously, it's pretty gut wrenching and really disappointing what's happened but I have to get over that and continue to think positively and try to help the guys out in whatever way I can."

Indeed, Carter cut a composed figure in front of the media. However, he confessed that he is "a little different behind closed doors. I tend to let out my frustration a lot.

"But being around the team really spurs me on to think positively and try and help them out in whatever way, and moping around is not going to help them.

"But lying in bed on Saturday night was pretty tough. Looking back on what's one of the craziest days in my life. To be named All Blacks captain, it's something really special, and then have that taken away through injury and later to find out my dream of being involved in a World Cup is now over. So it has been tough."

Indeed, Carter admitted that he was struggling with the "pure randomness of the injury", revealing that it had come "out of the blue".

"My body was really good leading into the week and it was good all week and I haven't had any groin or abductor or hip problems in the past.

"So for something like this to happen is really tough. I can't put my finger on why and I'm constantly asking why did this happen and I don't have the answer."