Why Dan Carter expects All Blacks to ‘make a real statement’ before RWC
Legendary playmaker Dan Carter, who knows a thing or two about winning Rugby World Cups, has shared some of his wisdom ahead of the All Blacks’ pursuit of glory in France later this year.
Carter is widely considered one of the greatest rugby players in the history of the sport. The former All Black has two World Cup crowns to his name, and was named the world’s best player on three occasions.
It’s hard to argue with Carter’s rugby resume – the flyhalf was one of the all-time greats.
After starting the 2011 Rugby World Cup on home soil with the All Blacks, Carter was injured during training ahead of a pool match against Canada.
But four years later, Carter made amends – finally getting his moment to start on the biggest stage in rugby union. The first five was clearly the All Blacks’ best player during their triumphant 2015 campaign.
Clearly, Carter knows what it takes to hoist the Webb Ellis Trophy.
But the 41-year-old is long retired. The current generation of New Zealand’s best rugby talent is just a couple of months away from their own shot at destiny.
Whether they succeed or fall short in France, history will be made.
The All Blacks begin their 2023 international season next weekend against Los Pumas in Mendoza. Carter stressed that they need to “make a real statement” in that opening Test.
“They want to be able to obviously be growing going into the World Cup but they need to start and make a real statement right from day one – right from the very first match,” Carter told Newshub.
“They don’t have a long prep going into the Cup so they need to be firing on all cylinders on day one.
“That shortened prep means there will be a lot of hard work, preparation, time within the culture to make sure they can hit the ground running and just continue to grow from there.”
It’s been said time and time again, and with good reason, that this year’s Rugby World Cup promises to be the biggest and most competitive iteration of the famous tournament yet.
While southern hemisphere sides New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have historically dominated the competition, there’s a genuine sense of belief that a northern side will reign supreme.
World No. 1 Ireland are looking to progress past the quarter-finals for the first time, while tournament favourites France will carry the hopes of a nation throughout their home World Cup.
But one team that isn’t being talked about as much as normal is the All Blacks.
New Zealand aren’t the favourites; some rugby fans wouldn’t have them in the top three.
But as Carter discussed, that doesn’t really matter.
“This is one of the most closely contested World Cups of all time,” Carter added.
“There are probably half a dozen teams that could go on to win this World Cup and there are probably 12 teams that could all beat those top half a dozen teams as well.
“Obviously the All Blacks won’t go in as favourites but I don’t think that really matters. Very rarely do the favourites win the Rugby World Cup anyway.
“That’ won’t change any of the planning going into this World Cup. They’ll have a really clear direction of how they want to play and grow their game throughout the World Cup and leave all of the external pressures out of the equation and focus on what they need to do as a team.”
The All Blacks open their 2023 international campaign against Argentina in Mendoza next weekend, before returning home to face rivals South Africa in Auckland.
Two matches against Eddie Jones’ Wallabies will follow before the All Blacks head to Europe for another titanic tussle with reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa.
Comments on RugbyPass
Just came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to comments