Dan Carter is striving to lead New Zealand to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and end his career on a high. Carter had his greatest ever game in 2005 against the Lions, scoring 33 points in a dominant performance. However, in 2011 his World Cup hopes were dashed by injury as New Zealand went on to win without him. Now at his fourth and final World Cup, the 33-year-old sees this as a chance for personal redemption and to ensure New Zealand are the first team to retain the trophy. Carter remains determined to perform at his best despite injuries slowing him in recent years.

1. SPORT FINALC10
gulfnews.com | Saturday, September 5, 2015 | Gulf News
Carter striving to be the perfect 10
ALL BLACKS LEGEND DETERMINED TO MAKE UP FOR 2011 HEARTACHE BYWINNING THE WORLD CUPTHIS YEAR
ABUDHABI
J
uly 2, 2005 — the night
New Zealand All Blacks fly-
half Dan Carter became a
global rugby superstar with
a superlative display that
showcased every aspect of his
voluminous talent.
Aged just 23, Carter scored
a record 33 points for the All
Blacks against the British and
Irish Lions in a 48-18 rout to win
the second Test in a series they
would go on to seal 3-0.
One of the most definitive
performances in rugby history
was embellished by impeccable
goal-kicking and two sublime
tries, the most indelible of which
left his much-vaunted opposite
number Jonny Wilkinson flail-
ing helplessly as Carter waltzed
around him.
It was a seminal moment, en-
capsulating the fact that Carter
had unambiguously superseded
Wilkinson, whose drop goal fa-
mously won the 2003 World Cup
for England, as the game’s pre-
eminent outside half.
Quite simply, this was an
evening when the irrepressible
fly-half was the perfect 10.
In an exclusive interview
with Gulf News ahead of the
Rugby World Cup in England,
which begins on September
18, Carter said of his greatest-
ever game: “I guess that’s what
you’re always striving for, per-
fection. Although I missed one
kick, that was as close to per-
fection as I’ve been that night.
My running game, my kicking
game, everything seemed to
gel that night and it was one of
the most special nights of my
career.
Unique game
“I never realised how unique
that game was until I got to the
media section straight after the
game,” he added. “There were
so many media asking me about
the brilliant game I’d played. I
didn’t even know I’d scored 33
points and had such a great night
at the office to break records.
“To turn on my phone and see
lots of messages from my friends
and family was amazing.”
Ten years on, and Carter’s
place in the pantheon of rugby
legends is unimpeachable. The
33-year-old holds the Test points
world record with 1,516 and has
won myriad titles for club and
country.
After the World Cup, he will
also become the game’s high-
est-paid player, reportedly be-
coming the first to earn £1 mil-
lion (Dh3.67 million) a year at
France’s Racing Metro, who he
will join from hometown side
Canterbury Crusaders. Yet Cart-
er’s career is not just a story of
untrammelled success, but also
one of agonising injuries and
crushing failures.
His most devastating experi-
ence came when a torn groin
tendon during the 2011 World
Cup in his homeland deprived
him of the chance to taste even-
tual global glory with his team-
mates.
How does he reflect on that
savage disappointment?
“I have a medal and I stayed
a part of the squad, but it didn’t
feel the same as being out there
on the pitch,” he recalled.
With that heartache as his
driving force, Carter is fiercely
determined to end his garlanded
All Blacks odyssey on a high and
be part of the first back-to-back
World Cup triumphs in history.
He said: “While the All Blacks
want to become the first team
ever to win back-to-back World
Cups, there’s also some person-
al, unfinished business for me. I
never thought I’d be here playing
in a fourth World Cup and I want
to make the most of this one and
succeed.”
Who does he rate as the main
contenders to the All Blacks’
crown?
“I’d say South Africa and
Australia, who have people that
can win any game on their day,”
he said. “Ireland have been
great in the last couple of years
and England will be a dominant
force on their own turf. They’ve
beaten us there before, but the
beauty of a World Cup is you
can pick up an injury to a key
player and there are bound to
be upsets.”
Ominously for their World
Cup rivals, Carter says the
world’s number one side are ap-
proaching the event without a
shred of complacency.
Staying on top
He said: “We were extremely
proud of winning the World Cup
for the first time in 24 years in
2011, but we didn’t want to leave
it there. We put a lot of hard work
intostayingasthenumberonein
the world as long as we can.
“Every team wanted to beat
us, but our mindset of wanting to
be the best in the world has given
us confidence and self-belief that
we will win no matter the situa-
tion we get ourselves in.”
Their orchestrator-in-chief
embodies that philosophy per-
fectly.
He added: “You always want
to strive to perform at your peak.
Ten years on, and I might not
be able to play a game like that
[against the Lions] ever again.
“But I am definitely more
tough and have a lot more ex-
perience, so I am still striving to
play as well as I know I can while
I’m still putting my boots on.”
Despite a succession of physi-
cal issues in recent years and
subsequent below-par perfor-
mances, Carter’s body and game
are ostensibly in rude health.
In his final game for New Zea-
land on home soil last month, he
delivered a performance that re-
called his halcyon days, kicking
with metronomic precision and
attacking with verve and impu-
nity as the All Blacks demolished
Australia 41-13.
Coach Steve Hansen, a gruff
and uncompromising character
who does not offer praise lightly,
said: “He was special tonight —
the Dan Carter of old. He’s been
questioned by a lot of people, and
he stood up.”
It’s a testament to Carter’s iron
will and endurance that he con-
tinues to scintillate despite a tu-
multuous 12-year international
career.
Aside from his 2011 nadir, he
has had to recover from setbacks
such as when a year’s sabbatical
at French Top 14 outfit Perpignan
was cut cruelly short when he
ruptured his Achilles tendon in
January 2009.
Even the phlegmatic Carter’s
resolve must have been severely
tested by yet another injury, a
broken leg, in the Super Rugby
final in 2014.
Burgeoning doubts over his
ability to withstand the rigours
of rugby appeared thoroughly
justified, with the former All
Black prop Craig Dowd remark-
ing earlier this year: “His body is
a bit of a liability.”
Carter copes with such criti-
cism as languidly as he speaks
and plays, however.
Closing out criticism
“I don’t read too much into it,
to be honest,” he said. “Basically
I just want to go out there and
have fun and play. I’ve had a lot
of injuries, but my body feels re-
ally good right now.
“You’re in a contact sport and
are going to take knocks and be
injured, which has happened to
me unfortunately in the last year
and this year. I’m confident I can
come back and be at the highest
level again.”
Given his age and ailments,
Carter says his training regime
has been pared down from heavy
weights sessions to activities
such as Pilates, swimming and
biking.
“It’s more recovery focused
now to get over the bumps and
bruises,” he said.
Yet, aside from his unwaver-
ing commitment to rugby, Carter
insists he is “a chilled, relaxed
guy”, with a variety of outside
interests to help him unwind.
Is there anything that annoys
him?
“Jeez, I don’t know,” Carter,
whose supremely down-to-
earth demeanour is at odds with
his exalted status, said. “I am
pretty relaxed. Obviously getting
married helps.”
Light-heartedfunisalsocrucial
to Carter remaining level-head-
ed — he has previously enjoyed
nights out in superhero costumes
withfriendssuchastheformerAll
BlacklockAliWilliams.
“Rugby, especially in New
Zealand, is like a religion,” he
said. “It’s all consuming at times,
so it’s important that you have
balance in your life. It’s impor-
tant to focus 100 per cent in
training, but in down time or at
weekends, it’s important that
you do the things you love.
“I love hanging out with my
mates and going kiteboarding
or DJing to take my mind off
rugby.”
A relaxed and rejuvenated
Carter bodes well for the All
Blacks’ bid to win a historic third
World Cup, not to mention his
never-ending quest to be the
perfect 10.
By Euan Reedie
Chief Sports Writer
– Abu Dhabi
13 DAYS
TO GO
Messi is a freak, New Zealand star says
ABU DHABI
G
ulf News enjoyed an ex-
clusive telephone inter-
view with New Zealand
All Blacks star Dan Carter
recently. Aside from reflect-
ing on his stellar career and
the forthcoming Rugby World
Cup, the 33-year-old revealed
his inspirations and future
plans.
Excerpts:
■■ Q: You have been compared
to Lionel Messi, but which
sportsman has inspired you
the most?
A: Michael Jordan inspired
me. He was the greatest [bas-
ketball player] of all time. What
I liked about him was that,
when the pressure came on, he
put his hand up.
I don’t compare myself to
any sportsmen. Lionel Messi,
he’s a freak, an amazing foot-
baller in a league of his own. To
dominate football the way he
has done for the past five years
is a credit to his ability.
■■ Q: What about rugby players
who have inspired you?
A: I really looked up to [for-
mer All Blacks fly-half Andrew
Mehrtens] in my teenage years.
He was such an awesome
player and I was lucky to play
alongside him for a couple of
years.
Also John Kirwan — he was
one of our 1987 World Cup-
winning players and scored a
great try in the final against
France. I was five years old
then and I think that’s what
made me want to be an All
Black.
■■ Q: Any other inspirations?
A: My father, who remains
my number one fan. He is a real
motivating force, as are all my
family.
My parents put a ball into my
hands as soon as I could walk
and put posts up in our gar-
den, where I would kick goals
and play with my mates until it
got dark. They gave me the best
opportunity to make it to the
highest level.
■■ Q: Tell me about your
friendship with New Zea-
land cricket captain Bren-
don McCullum, who once
kept you out of your school
team?
A: I’m good mates with
Brendon. We only played in one
team together as schoolboys,
but he’s gone on to do some
great things in cricket.
■■ Q: Could he have been a rug-
by player?
A: He had a real toughness
about him, was very skilful and
a great competitor. I’m sure if
he’d have given rugby a bit of
a crack, he’d have done pretty
well
■■ Q: What are your plans after
rugby?
A: I’m not too sure. I quite
enjoy the commercial aspect of
the sport, even helping young
players with the transition into
the game doing things I could
have done better. I’ve learnt a
lot about playing at the highest
level.
■■ Q: What’s the greatest lesson
you’d teach?
A: For me it’s about enjoying
rugby and, with the commer-
cial side, just get in there and
enjoy it.
Carter hails his
inspirations and muses
on the future
By Euan Reedie
Chief Sports Writer
— Abu Dhabi
Dan Carter | All Blacks legend
❝Michael Jordan inspired me. He was the
greatest [basketball player] of all time. What
I liked about him was that, when the pressure
came on, he put his hand up.”
Shot at greatness
■■ Dan Carter appeared to
be returning to his form
of old in New Zealand’s
41-13 hammering of
Australia last month,
according to coach
Steve Hansen.
Rex Features
Rex Features
Defining moment
■■ All Blacks’ Dan Carter scores a try during the second Test
against the British and Irish Lions in Wellington in 2005.