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Foley to take on his hero, Dan Carter

28th July, 2014
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NSW Waratahs five-eighth Bernard Foley gets the chance to play against one of his idols when he tests his mettle against All Blacks great Dan Carter in Saturday’s Super Rugby final.

The smart playmaking of Foley, who is the competition’s leading scorer, has been a central factor in the Waratahs’ surge to the minor premiership and their first home final.

Crusaders star Carter, who has only recently returned from a sabbatical, was named on Monday in New Zealand’s squad for the Rugby Championship starting next month.

The veteran fly-half has started the Crusaders’ last three games at inside centre outside Colin Slade, who he replaced in the All Blacks squad,

Incumbent Wallabies pivot Foley has had little experience of playing against the Crusaders, who are gunning for an eighth Super title.

“I’ve only ever played them once in my rugby career,” Foley said on Monday.

“Dan Carter has been at the top of the game for a long time.

“He was a bit of an idol when I was growing up.

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“To come up against him in one of the biggest matches I’ve ever played in will be pretty exciting.

“They’ve got All Blacks across the field, so it’s a great challenge, but hopefully one we’re up for.”

Asked what he admired about Carter, Foley cited “composure and his ability to stick at his game.”

“It doesn’t matter whether they are up or down,” Foley said.

“His control and his ability to influence a match, especially in the big ones, is definitely pretty special.”

The Waratahs didn’t play the Crusaders during the season, with their last encounter coming in May last year, when the New Zealand side won 23-22 in Christchurch.

“A bit of the unknown having not come up against them this year,” Foley said.

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“But I think the Crusaders side, they are such a big side and such a big presence at this time of year.

“We’re thinking big ball runners and some flashy backs and guys who, if we aren’t on our game, they are going to really hurt us.

“I think it’s going to be a massive effort collectively, to try and keep those blokes under wraps.”

Foley nominated unity on and off the field as a key factor in the Waratahs’ success this year, with the players also spending plenty of time together outside training.

“It’s probably the tightest group I’ve been associated with here and our guys are playing for each other and there’s no individual ego or personal agendas,” Foley said.

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