Carter puts team ahead of personal plaudits

DAN CARTER is unfazed by the personal plaudits from many good judges who consider he has the talent to become one of the greatest fly-halves rugby has ever seen after taking over the mantle of the world’s best from Jonny Wilkinson.

For Carter, all the hype is simply a by-product of being part of the all-conquering All Blacks who go to Twickenham on Saturday determined to overcome the World Cup holders.

“Everyone has their own personal opinion but I don’t read too much into that sort of thing. The guys I’m playing around are playing particularly well and that makes it easier. I know I have to do my best for the team and that’s what counts,” he said.

Fame clearly sits uneasily on the shoulders of the quietly spoken 23-year-old.

“I don’t think it’s that bad. There’s a lot more attention when I go out now but I don’t want it to change my life.

“People ask for autographs but I’m happy with that. It only takes 20 seconds and you can make someone’s day. New Zealand is pretty good really, they respect your own space,” said Carter, who has enjoyed the big-city anonymity of London this week.

“Here, you can go out and nobody recognises you,” he said.

England certainly recognise the danger he poses. They will be out to ‘Get Carter’ and prevent him providing the springboard for New Zealand’s third Autumn tour triumph.

“It’s the biggest test on tour so far so the boys are pumped up. It isn’t going to be easy because the England team played pretty well beating Australia last week,” acknowledged Carter.

Carter is a disciple of the Wilkinson work ethic - “I do three good kicking sessions a week, with close to 100 kicks” - and says: “I’ve heard he puts the work in and I try to do the same.”

England will be without Wilkinson but Steve Thompson is determined to bulldoze a route through the perceived wisdom that the All Blacks are invincible.

The England hooker, the 18st 11lbs central axis of the biggest front row in world rugby, has this message for the doubters: “They’re beatable.”

“We’ve seen that,” said Thompson. “South Africa can beat them in the Tri-nations, so we can have a go at them and get the win as well.

“Our squad is young but we have high expectations of ourselves. We really want to test ourselves and there’s no better test than playing the number one team in the world.

“It’s going to be a great day for us to see where we are. We’re on an upward curve and hopefully that’s where we’ll keep going.”