Carter proves he's a cut above - again
Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:21
All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter showed once again why he's rated as the best No.10 in the world with an imperious performance to help his side clinch the Tri-Nations title in Brisbane on Saturday.
Carter has been in stellar form this year for New Zealand, and repeated that form once more on Saturday to deflate the Australian challenge with a perfect kicking record of four kicks from four attempts.
On top of those four conversions, Carter also scored a crucial try to help the All Blacks overcome a 10-point deficit to eventually prevail 28-24 over the dumbstruck Aussies.
"It was tough," Carter said of the intensely physical match in which both teams threw their bodies on the line in search of the Tri-Nations title.
The pivot revealed that his side didn't have it all their way, and that the All Blacks had to overcome a sticky period where they weren't firing at all.
"We weren't really playing, just sort of taking the easy route. We really had to step up the intensity and keep the self-belief, because when you're a couple of tries down like that you can let things slide.
"We just worked hard playing at the right end of the field and sort of expressing ourselves.
"We were putting too many guys into the rucks, but if we play at 'our' end of the field and let the boys express themselves they can create opportunities.
"I think we did that over the last 20-30 minutes, created a few more opportunities and were finishing them off which was pleasing," Carter told rugbyheaven.co.nz.
The 26-year-old stated that the squad were greatly relieved to get their hands on the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup double once again, and that it was important for them to enjoy the moment.
"It's why you play the game, for those trophies," said Carter. "You've got to celebrate your victories, and we'll be doing that.
"We've got a bit of a break now, and we're not going to be back as a team, so we'll enjoy each other's company and enjoy the occasion."
Carter also revealed that winning both trophies with a transitional side has been one of the highlights of his amazing career thus far.
"This was a pretty new-look side, and the way we started the Tri-Nations with a couple of losses early on, we had our backs against the wall.
"To fight back the way we did and come away with three very big wins is great for this bunch of guys."
New Zealand had to roll with the punches late in the match, when Ma'a Nonu had to be replaced by Stephen Donald. The change meant that Carter had to move to inside centre to accommodate Donald, a move which paid dividends for coach Graham Henry.
"I haven't been training too much at second five, not at all actually, so I dusted a few cobwebs away," said Carter of the unexpected move.
"I guess it does give a bit of a left-right kicking option. There were a couple of tough hits, and it was good to play outside Stephen - he would have enjoyed that and learnt a lot from the experience."
