Rugby: Dan carter, was he the perfect rugby player?

 

Rugby: Dan
carter, was he the perfect rugby player?

 

 

In the wake of the All-Black Dan Carter’s retirement in February 2021 at 40 years old, we all of us rugby fans should take look back to his entire huge career and the question at hand is: was Dan Carter the perfect rugby player?

The first point I would like to highlight is the course of his huge career. Dan Carter started to play rugby in 2002 at the best level in New Zealand with the Crusaders team. He has been playing for 6 years there before crossing the world and go to France in order to play the Top 14 championship with the USAP club of Perpignan. There he was gravely injured and stayed only 1 year before to come back in Super Rugby with the Crusaders. But his story with France was not over yet and after has played 5 years more in New Zealand, he decided to join in 2019 the Parisian club of Racing 92 for two years contract. Finally, his last journey drove him to Japan where he finished his career. To my mind, his career looks quite special and almost perfect: Dan Carter played with only one club of heart in his own country but was not scared of travelling and challenging his rugby in foreign leagues.

But of course, what is really at stake in rugby is the truth of the famous “green rectangle” and that player, was also very close to perfection. First of all, his first quality was his technicity. Passes, kicks, with his left and right hands and left and right feet, Dan carter was able to do everything he wanted. Moreover, with 1m78 for 94 kg, he was also a very physical player too able to play in different position like fly-half, center or full-back. Tactically, he was one of the smartest players on the pitch, in charge of driving his team during the game, knowing when the team must accelerate or slow the pace. What could be his weakness? There are probably none because he was also a very bankable player with a wage of 1 billion a year and in the meantime 1 billion a year from his sponsorship with adidas during his second period in France. On one hand he was complete athlete but on the other hand he was also famous for being a very nice with journalists during interviews or with people in general as shown in a photo taken without his knowledge, carrying an old woman's groceries to the supermarket.

Finally, we can look upon his honours and we can notice that his trophy’s cabinet is well stocked. In club, he won 12 national titles with Canterbury and Crusaders in New Zealand, 2 Top 14 in France with Perpignan and Racing 92 and 1 Japanese title with Kobelco Steelers. On the international scene, with the All blacks, he won 16 titles including 2 Rugby World Cups and 9 Rugby Championship. He also won by the way 12 personal distinctions.

Dan Carter is one of the best fly-half of the rugby’s history in all aspects: technically, tactically, physically, or even in marketing. We all cannot wait to see what he does in the future, either as a coach or as a consultant or something totally different. Whatever he’ll chose, we will love it. Thanks a lot Dan and see you soon! 

Thomas Hauret  

picture's source: https://images.sudouest.fr/2020/06/04/5ed8884e66a4bdf5313d6f0a/widescreen/1000x500/dan-carter-lors-de-la.jpg