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Dan Carter linked to shock return to Super Rugby - but not for the Crusaders

By Online Editors
(Photo by Richard Heathcote - World Rugby via Getty Images)

The rumour mill is in overdrive in New Zealand with strong suggestions that former All Blacks star Dan Carter has signed for the Blues. The Auckland-based franchise are thought to have been in talks with Carter for some time and a foot injury to Stephen Perofeta in training this week may have fast-tracked the chance to sign the veteran on a replacement contract for the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

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The new all-New Zealand tournament starts next week, with the Blues hosting the Hurricanes at Eden Park on June 14 in their opening match after the regular Super Rugby tournament was cancelled in March due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

Carter is a free agent after finishing his playing commitments with Japanese club Kobe Steelers after the season there was also cancelled due to the pandemic and he has since returned to Auckland with his family.

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Tom Vinicombe chats with former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko about his time in France and coming through the Auckland Blues playing with Carlos Spencer.

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Tom Vinicombe chats with former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko about his time in France and coming through the Auckland Blues playing with Carlos Spencer.

The 38-year-old was in fine form in Japan during recent seasons and his motives for potentially joining the Blues are said to be giving back to New Zealand rugby by sharing his knowledge and experience in the swansong of his career.

Signing Carter, the dual World Cup winner and three-time World Rugby player of the year, as a replacement player would allegedly also only cost the Blues $1,800 per week.

The rumoured message that Blues head coach Leon MacDonald reportedly sent to the Blues team on Wednesday evening.

The Blues are expected to hand star recruit Beauden Barrett the playmaking reins for their opening match of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, but they also have Otere Black, who was a major factor in steering the team to five wins from seven games before the season shutdown.

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Carter’s surprise presence would be the icing on the playmaking cake, giving the Blues depth beyond their wildest dreams, especially in a New Zealand derby competition that promises to be brutally combative.

The sight of Carter pulling on a Blues jersey is unlikely to sit well with staunch Crusaders supporters, though. Carter played 141 games for the Crusaders, winning three Super Rugby titles before shifting north after calling time on his illustrious Test career following the 2015 World Cup.

Speaking recently to Ireland’s Johnny Sexton, Carter suggested players could now push their careers into their 40s. “Using this time off, it’s something you don’t get as a professional rugby player. Having two or three months, maybe it’s going to be much longer, of not having that constant grind, that contact.

“So it is like a mini-sabbatical. I was very fortunate to have a couple through my career, but if it’s used wisely the young players that have been playing heavily for the past four or five seasons, it’s perfect timing.

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“Then you look at the other side of the spectrum with more experienced players like yourself [Sexton], you don’t get many opportunities like this. So, if it’s used wisely and you keep training, and as long as your motivation upstairs is still there, I can’t see why you can’t play longer than potentially you thought you might, with having a break like this.

“Obviously, there is some pretty exciting rugby around the corner over the next couple of years, so I told Maro (Itoje, last week’s guest) that I expect him to still be playing when he’s 38 years old, like myself, and with you having a break like this then you can probably push through to the 40s. So, I’m looking forward to seeing that.”

Carter potentially joining the Blues would leave New Zealand rugby stacked with world-class playmakers – a line-up that includes Barrett, Richie Mo’unga at the Crusaders and Aaron Cruden, who was in superb form with the Chiefs after returning from France.

The Blues did not respond to requests for a comment.

 

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Trevor 1 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.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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