Euro Cup Final: Saracens v Racing 92
Carter, the World Player of the Year who joined Racing after leading New Zealand to a second successive World Cup win in October, has helped gel a formidable, cosmopolitan outfit in Paris.
After the disappointing signings of Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts, there were some doubts about Carter, but the All Black legend quickly dispelled any worries, his calm, confident approach galvanising a team bristling with intent.
Two World Cups aside, Carter, world rugby's highest Test points scorer after 112 outings with the All Blacks, has already won the Super Rugby title with the Crusaders and even the Top 14 trophy when part of the winning Perpignan team, albeit his game time was limited to five matches because of injury.
A European Cup accolade would add to his prestigious list of accomplishments, completing a personal clean sweep of Rugby Union's leading international and club titles, but Racing face a stiff task against Saracens, who have made their second Final in three years.
Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall insisted his side won't make the "big mistake" of targeting Carter.
"It's a big, big, big mistake to think you're going to go and get Dan Carter," said McCall. "Dan Carter's been doing this for a very long time. So we've got to make sure that his influence in the game isn't huge, isn't unbelievably significant.
"And if we can do that it means our pack have got on top in the scrum, in the line-out. It means we'll have put a little bit more pressure on him than he's experienced before.
"But if you run down his channel and think you're going to shake him up, you're not going to."
McCall has built up a team boasting a wealth of England internationals who were vital in the Red Roses' Six Nations Grand Slam victory.
The likes of lock duo Maro Itoje and George Kruis are the cornerstone of a dynamic pack alongside Billy and Mako Vunipola, and complemented by playmaker Owen Farrell and fullback Alex Goode, arguably back to their best form.
"For us this can't be the finish," said McCall. "Regardless of what happens on the weekend, of course you want to win it. But if we do, I'm hoping it's the start of something rather than the end.
"We've got a really brilliant age profile in our squad, we've got people signed up for the long-term, people who are unbelievably ambitious and hungry to get better who are in their early and mid-20s.
"So regardless of what happens I believe we're going to be playing in more of these big matches."
Record European points scorer Ronan O'Gara is Racing's assistant coach and the former Munster playmaker believes Racing have grown into a side ready to claim European honours.
"One of our big strengths this year is how united we are. Our values now are a lot better than they were 12 months ago, and people are putting it in for each other," O'Gara said.
"We've installed a different culture and identity, because there's no recent history of winning anything at this club apart from a Pro D2.
"Now I feel there is a grip on the club which means the club can do something. Previously it wasn't possible because of the standards, but we have something very good building."
The Grand Stade de Lyon is on course for a 59 000 sell-out attendance on Saturday, with a new name sure to be on the trophy as neither side has yet to experience European Cup glory.
Head to head:
Dan Carter v Owen Farrell
The sole accolade eluding Dan Carter is a European Cup title. The All Black played 112 times for New Zealand, scoring a record 1 598 Test points. Twice part of the squad that won the World Cup, he is a three-time world player of the year – a mantle he currently holds. Calm, cool, collected, the 34-year-old has done it all. If he fires, Racing fires. Farrell, still only 24, has amassed 40 England caps, scoring 412 points in the process, and also came off the bench in the British and Irish Lions' title decider against Australia in 2013. While even he admitted to going off the boil last season, he has rebounded as a playmaker par excellence and be it at flyhalf or inside centre, Farrell represents a threat, not just with his trusty boot.
Luke Charteris/Francois van der Merwe v Maro Itoje/George Kruis
Wales lock Charteris has been a mainstay for the Racing pack, his explosive ability in the line-out matched by his maul defence. Along with the no-nonsense Van der Merwe, who is uncapped internationally and has been with Racing since 2008 and a key player in winning promotion to the Top14 from the ProD2, the pair will fully test Itoje and Kruis, who both shot to fame as integral cogs to the England team that stormed to this season's Six Nations Grand Slam. The English duo promise to be at the heart of Eddie Jones' team for many years to come, given their all-round athleticism and growing technical skills.
Juan Imhoff v Chris Ashton
Argentina's Imhoff was one of the standouts of 2015 World Cup along with teammate and fellow wing Santiago Cordero. His electric pace and eye for a gap has marked him out as one of world rugby's finest finishers. Ashton, however, has fewer enthusiastic backers, one of those players hated as much as he is loved. But there is no doubt that the England wing, who has missed the Six Nations on a lengthy eye-gouging ban, is a dangerous player who has an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time for often decisive tries, as was shown in Saracens' quarterfinal victory over Northampton.
Chris Masoe v Billy Vunipola
Unleashed by new England coach Eddie Jones, Vunipola was in scintillating form and a key part to his side's Six Nations Grand Slam success. Never happier than with ball in hand and a few metres of space, Vunipola presents defenders with a headache, while also solid at the base of a scrum and in defence. Masoe is almost 37 years of age, the 20-times capped All Black having signed for Racing from Toulon, where he was an essential part of their two-time European Cup-winning squad. Previously at Castres, he was reunited with coaches Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers in Paris, and he has flourished, an even temperament of an old head in a team that is pushing for more.
Prediction: This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs in the competition; Racing won the first encounter in 2010/11 but Saracens have won all four since. Four of the previous five matches between the sides have been won by margins of fewer than 10 points. This will be Racing 92's first appearance in a European Final, while Saracens have reached this stage once before in 2014 when they were beaten 6-23 by RC Toulon. This will be the sixth Anglo-French decider. Premiership clubs have won three with the Top 14 winning two. 14 of the previous 20 finals have been decided by margins of seven points or fewer, while just three finals have seen over 50 points scored in total. Saracens remain on course to become the first team club to win all pool matches before going on to lift the trophy. Saracens have failed to score a try in five of their six knockout games against French opposition in the Champions Cup (Won 2, Lost 3). Saturday's contest will be between the competition's best attack and best defence; Saracens (34.1) have averaged the most points per game this season while Racing have onceded the fewest (12.8). Owen Farrell (41/57) has succeeded with the most kicks at goal this season. No other player has reached 25, he is also the top point scorer (106). Dan Carter (23/24 – 96 percent) however has the best success rate of any player to attempt at least eight shots at goal. Carter's teammate Johann Goosen has landed the longest kick in the competition this season from 55 metres. This is a hard one to call – however, Racing 92 have been a different beast since Daniel Carter's arrival and should steer the French club to victory by at least five points.
Teams:
Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Johannes Goosen, 12 Alexandre Dumoulin, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (captain), 1 Eddy Ben Arous.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Khatchik Vartanov, 18 Luc Ducalcon, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Antonie Claassen, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Remi Tales, 23 Henry Chavancy.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (captain), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Michael Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Ben Spencer, 2 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Date: Saturday, May 14
Venue: Grand Stade de Lyon, Lyon
Kick-off: 17.45 (16.45 BST; 15.45 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
