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Dan Carter explains why he chose the Blues and when fans might see him actually take the field

By Online Editors
Dan Carter. (Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)

Dan Carter in a Blues jersey might be hard to swallow for Crusaders fans but it’s reality after the franchise confirmed his signing today ahead of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season.

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Carter has addressed the media after confirming he had joined the Blues franchise.

“I want to use my experience to help the Blues,” he said.

“I’ve been approached a few times over the years when Ted [Sir Graham Henry] was coaching, JK [Sir John Kirwan] as well. I didn’t obviously at the time. I didn’t think about it.

“When the Japanese season was cancelled I just wanted to spend time with my family. It wasn’t until Leon called saying Stevie [Perofeta] had been ruled out for the season, that’s when I thought about it. He’s a pretty convincing guy.”

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Israel Dagg and Kirstie Stanway chat to Kiwi rugby players at home and abroad as the great game prepares to return.

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Israel Dagg and Kirstie Stanway chat to Kiwi rugby players at home and abroad as the great game prepares to return.

“It took a while to put it [the jersey] on but once I got out there…it wasn’t really a team I thought I would be playing for but it’s an opportunity to come to training in the city my family is.”

“We’ve been starved of sport and rugby. As a player we feel the same. With it being around the corner, it’s an exciting time. Super Rugby Aotearoa first came around I didn’t really think about playing in it… It’s more about getting my body up to speed to just be in contention to be selected. A great opportunity to help some of the young guys,” Carter added.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald said it’s “a great story for rugby”.

“He’s been in the top level of rugby for a long time and for him to give back attests to his character.”

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“DC is helping us on that track. We have some young talent who will thrive having him around. We need to look after Dan and progress him. I don’t expect to see Dan on the field in the early weeks but when he is ready he’ll give us options,” MacDonald said.

“He’ll be great for us, he’s got a level head, selfless, no ego. The younger guys will come over and talk to him. Our team is important this year. Dan epitomises that. He is our Tom Brady, he just keeps going.”

“His heart’s in the right place. I got him at the right time and I think I might have hit the jackpot here. Maybe he’s just coming out of lockdown and still not thinking straight!”

‘Competitive edge’

Carter explained it was his ‘competitive edge’ that drew him to the Blues.

“There’s a competitive edge in all pro spokespeople,” Carter added.

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“At this stage I have to be realistic. I’ve played six games in the last 18 months. It’s going to be a process…no contact the last three months. The games in Japan gave me a lot of confidence to bounce back from the neck injury I had. Once I can get some work under the belt with the trainings, I want to be out there competing.

“That’s what all sportspeople miss – that competitive edge and even just running around out there today brought that back.

Playing against the Crusaders

“I talked to the old man. As a proud Cantab…as he has been throughout my career he’s been supportive. I’ve talked to Razor to let him know my reasoning, too.”

“It’s all happened really quickly. Last week I probably thought this was the last place I would be.”

“I don’t want to think about what it would be like to play against the Crusaders – if that were to happen. I’ll deal with that later on.”

“It’s a bit of a favour for a good mate of mine and I’ll keep that favour in the back pocket. We’ve been teammates for a big part of my career and to be coached by him is great,” Carter said.

‘NZ rugby has given me so much.’

They’ve obviously gone through a challenging period. To be alongside some young players and someone like Beaudy is a great opportunity to give back,” Carter said.

“I haven’t even thought about playing alongside Beauden. I’ve been impressed with the leadership role he’s taken with the All Blacks. He was a young fella when I was still playing with him, now I’m looking forward to pick his brain for my learning.

“Fans have been starved of live sport and ho[pefully they will show their appreciation. There’s still some uncertainty around the crowd situation but hopefully, they can come out and support their teams.”

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Jon 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

30 Go to comments
A
Adrian 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

30 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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