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Papa Carter's take on Dan linking with the Blues: 'I'll just keep my fingers crossed he's not going to get smashed'

By Online Editors
Dan Carter. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Dan Carter, the proud Cantabrian now in the unfamiliar colours of Blue, won’t have his family cheering him on if he suits up for his new team against the Crusaders this season.

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In an interview with Newstalk ZB’s Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford, Carter’s dad Neville said although he gave his blessing for his son’s move to the Blues, he will still be supporting the Crusaders when the two sides meet.

“It’s pretty straightforward,” Neville said. “The Crusaders are always going to get the support from me. And I’ll just keep my fingers crossed he’s not going to get smashed by them.”

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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.

Dan Carter has long been a loyalist to the red and black, but he says he signed with the Blues ahead of Super Rugby Aotearoa next week because he wanted to “give back” to New Zealand rugby.

The nature of the current Covid environment and some strong persuasion from his former teammate and new coach Leon MacDonald, as well as the fact that his wife Honor and kids are based in Auckland, made the decision a lot easier too.

However, he still had to clear it with his family down south.

“I talked to the old man,” Carter said in his first media appearance as a Blues player yesterday. “He’s a proud Cantab, but like he has been throughout my career, he was really supportive. That goes a long way, having that family support.”

Neville recalled the conversation he had with his son before he went on to shock the country by signing with the Auckland franchise.

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“I said to him ‘you’ve still got a wee bit to give back to New Zealand rugby and we’re lacking rugby at the moment. So if you’re keen to give it a go, go for it’. There’s nowhere else he can go at this stage unfortunately so it’s an opportunity to give back to rugby in New Zealand.

“I did say to him ‘you may be getting a bit of a bad reception when you get down our way’.”

Carter has also told the story of the time news was leaked to the papers that he was close to signing with the Blues earlier in his career, which prompted a teary phone call from his grandma (Neville’s mum).

This time, however, nana was happy for her grandson and supported the move – although, like her son, she probably won’t be rooting for Carter’s Blues against the Crusaders.

“Her father played for Canterbury and her uncle played for Canterbury and the All Blacks,” Neville said. “So she was definitely Cantabrian through and through.

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“I managed to give her a ring just to actually break the news to her before I thought she’d see it on telly but she said no she’s seen it and she’s finally decided being the age of 90 that it’s quite good he’s actually getting back into doing something with his rugby. So she was quite pleased as a whole.”

While the days of his son playing in red are long gone, Neville says there’s one thing he definitely doesn’t miss about that time: those massive underwear billboards.

“We took one look at it and took a u-turn and went back the other way.”

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Trevor 2 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 6 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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