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‘It’s quite awkward’: Dan Carter on the ‘very different’ 2023 All Blacks
Legendary playmaker Dan Carter has been invited into the All Blacks’ inner sanctum this year as part of a “legacy group” ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
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World Cup winners Keven Mealamu, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Liam Messam and Carter have all gone behind the scenes to share their experiences and support the current crop of All Blacks.
Just last week in Dunedin, two-time World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw was seen watching on as the All Blacks were put through their paces at Friday’s captain’s run at Logan Park.
McCaw also sat with the team – those who weren’t selected in the matchday squad – in the stands at Forsyth Barr Stadium during the Test on Saturday afternoon. That’s leadership and experience that can’t be bought.
While their playing days are over, these five legends are continuing to add to the distinguished legacy of the black jersey ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.
“It’s a new bunch and you guys know pretty well that when you finish playing, you get invited back into the changing rooms or the team room and it’s quite awkward,” Carter said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Australia.
“I don’t know if you guys feel it but going back into that environment, you kind of feel like a spare wheel.
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“You always say, ‘Once an All Black, always an All Black,’ but things move on pretty quickly once you’re finished in the black jersey.
“They invited five of us just to be a fly on the wall, just sit in the background and just see if we pick up on anything around their preparation or if any of the young guys have any questions.
“This legacy group was formed and it was (Keven Mealamu), Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Liam Messam and myself.”
Along with former New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu, Carter helped the All Blacks prepare for their highly anticipated Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies at the MCG.
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The two greats were in “for part of the week,” and helped the New Zealanders prepare for one of the biggest days on their rugby calendar.
“There’s just something about the Bled that I love,” Carter added.
The All Blacks went on to win that Test 38-7, although the victory – which saw the New Zealanders retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year – didn’t come easy.
Australia were well and truly in the fight, and actually looked like the better team throughout the opening quarter of the Test. But they couldn’t turn their attacking pressure into points.
The All Blacks made them pay.
Tries to Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane and Mark Telea saw the All Blacks unleash an attacking onslaught during the second term, as they ran away with a big win in front of almost 84,000 fans.
But after the Test, Carter was left stunned. The former flyhalf couldn’t believe how “disciplined’ the current squad are.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Carter added. “They all had a drink out of the Bled to celebrate it and it was very different to how it was 20-odd years ago.
“They’re just so disciplined. There’s still a lot of hurt from 2019.
“They had a curfew and they wanted to celebrate behind closed doors in the hotel… it was very different to how it used to be.”
The All Blacks overcame an improved Australian outfit in Dunedin the following weekend, with replacement Richie Mo’unga kicking a match-winning penalty at the death.
New Zealand beat their arch-rivals 23-20 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, which extended their unbeaten run to four Tests from as many starts this year.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments