How is it that a player who covers more ground than the early explorers, has an extraordinarily high and varied level of effective involvements, and is constantly realigning his field position to suit particular phases of play can be regarded as a one-dimensional player who lacks flair?
Throughout the last two Super 14 seasons Tom Carter has essentially redefined the No.12 position; yet no one seems aware of it.
Carter is frequently compared to long-serving Waratahs inside-centre Nathan Grey but the comparison is misleading.
The similarities are that they are both straight runners who hit the line with force and malicious intent and that they are powerful and effective tacklers. But Grey is a much smaller man who played a conventional and fairly predictable 12 game.
Until last season, Carter had dominated the centre-field in Sydney club rugby for three or four seasons, but despite being on the Waratahs roster had never had a single minute of Super 14 game time. That changed when Todd Louden took over as attack coach and proceeded to exploit Carter’s work ethic and physical attributes that are particularly valuable in the modern game under the ELVs.
Louden, currently visiting family in Australia after guiding Ricoh from Second Division to Top Four status in Japan, agrees that Carter’s work rate and ability to bend the line are often overlooked.
“Tommy can play both a passing game and a block-busting running game, and is capable of adapting and improving his game to any team play or style. He is constantly reinventing himself around what is best for the team. He is a pleasure to coach as it is like working with a fresh canvas each season.”
Under Ewen McKenzie and Louden, Carter was an integral part of the Waratahs’ all-but-triumphant 2008 campaign, playing every game despite carrying injuries to both groins through most of the season.
Not surprisingly, after the Super 14 he had to miss the remaining Sydney club Premiership games, but more importantly was not available for the Australia A fixtures which may well have given him the chance to press for the Wallabies end-of-year tour.
Like his captain Phil Waugh, Carter receives little credit or recognition for the sheer volume of work he gets through.
Next time you watch a ‘Tahs game – presuming selectors don’t persist with a rotation policy – have a look at how many kick chases Carter leads. Count his tackle involvements and their success rate.
After an engagement, watch how he sprints cross field to take up the most effective defensive or attacking position. Observe how he controls the defensive alignment of his backline. Note how powerfully he gets across the gain line and how many defenders have to be committed to arrest his momentum.
The Tom Carter game is an exemplar of how a big, powerful, very fit and fast back-rower might approach the challenge of playing as an outside back. I believe he is the forerunner of a style which will become increasingly utilised.
max power
Guest
Just wanted to revisit this to point out that when the Waratahs actually played some good, attacking rugby in the final 3 rounds that Tom Carter wasn't in the starting side.
Bruce Ross
Roar Pro
max power, you said, "I think your comments about his line-breaking and pass skills are very generous." I would be interested in being shown where I said anything in the article about Tom Carter's "pass skills." I did, however, quote his 2008 attack coach, Todd Louden, as saying, "“Tommy can play both a passing game and a block-busting running game." I presume he would be qualified to make these assessments. I did say, "Note how powerfully he gets across the gain line," and I do not resile from that. Your criticism of him is apparently based on seeing very little Super 14 this season, but you assert that "in the first two rounds he turned the ball over in contact with his first touch both games." Whether this is true or not I wouldn't know; I don't mark players' cards that closely.. We also got a good chance to see him in his rookie year last season where he started in every game. Just for the record, I have watched Carter play each year since he left school. It is my view that he is indeed outstanding in getting across the gain line and that he has a more than adequate kit of tools with regard to passing. He has soft hands and can deliver a sympathetic pass to a close support or throw an accurate cut-out pass on either side. You are very gracious in saying that "he does the little 1 percenters well." If 14 successful tackles per game and a missed tackle percentage of 4.2 are "little 1 percenters," then I wish I'd had just one player like that on any of the teams I coached many years ago. I agree with other people's comments that he does not do much kicking. Whether that damns him in the eyes of the national selectors is for them to decide.
Marvin
Guest
Max Power. Might be worth you watching super 14 matches more closely, Your opinion will then have greater pull. Hard to pass comment if your viewing has beeen hit and miss. Enjoy the tahs game vs the Blues tomorrow at 5.30pm EDST.
max power
Guest
I think you comments about his line-breaking and pass skills are very generous. I haven't seen that much of the Super 14 this year but in the first two round he turned the ball over in contact with his first touch both games. I can't recall seeing him throw a long pass. Sure he does the little 1 percenters well but I think Robbie Deans would much rather an inside who can kick and pass.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
gentlemen, my memory is that the Wallabies backs were generally disappointing last year, despite the headcoach and backs coach being a AB back!!!! So, maybe a tommy carter may bring something solid to the table. Geezzzzz, it is a very difficult selection issue, but one not yet a priority.
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
Off topic I know but how about this gem from Wayne Smith in the Oz.... "And sorry, but I want to sell my shares in Kurtley Beale. A lot of people got in early when Beale was first listed and maybe over time they've made a modest profit on their investment in him but I bought at the peak of the boom and I've taken a bath. I just want out. I'm not saying he won't bounce back when the recession is over but, heck, he's the guy the Waratahs were relying on to end their recession and, sadly, all he has done is compound it." I may not entirely agree but brilliant nonetheless.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
I think the answer to the question posed in the title of this article is: Both. And then some. :) One thing you need in any team is balance. You wouldn't want a team where you described every member as an "honest toiler". Similarly you wouldn't want a team where you described every member as a flashy young tyro. There is room in teams for "honest toilers". There are a lot of up-and-coming players I'd describe as flashy young tyros - Cooper, Beale, Horne, O'Conner, Ashley-Cooper - so I've a feeling at some stage in the not too distant future the Wallabies might have need in their backs of a hard, straight running, honest toiler with excellent fundamentals. Keep it up Tom!
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
Bennalong - I'm willing to proved wrong over time - believe me it's happened plenty of times before, however I don't see the skillset or vision that someone like Barnes has. If you want someone that will run straight and gets you over the gain line you could pick any number of blokes out of the club comp. As I said, there is nothing wrong with a player being tagged a journeyman - every team has them. Sluggy - Tackle? More like an elbow to the face that gave Hill a fractured cheekbone. While I admired Grey's commitment, he was a thug.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
"I may have started the Nathan Grey allusion and I suppose it depends on your view of Nathan. I loved him ...." And that tackle on Richard Hill that turned a Lion's series around in 2001.
bennalong
Guest
I'm a Tom Carter fan. PastHisbest; How can you call him a journeyman? You get that call after seasons of employment without regular selection. Carter is on the run-on team each week. I may have started the Nathan Grey allusion and I suppose it depends on your view of Nathan. I loved him but sometimes his hands let him down. His great points were his commitment, his intensity, and his straight running. Carter is a big boy who'll get bigger and he runs straight up the centre when asked, He gets us over the gain line with unerring predictability. He's a perfect foil for Horne who runs beautiful angles, so much so that I have to agree with others who see Carter keeping Tahu as an impact player off the bench. Until Tahu really hits his straps and dominates he really has to watch and learn, especially tackle styles I liked the comparison with Waugh who gets missed even when regularly turning in the highest tackle count !
stillmissit
Roar Guru
PastHisBest - Having seen Deans pull selections I wouldnt consider and have them work out, I am wondering if he does have it. Prepared to keep an open mind about him.
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
Carter is a journeyman that makes the most of his ability. No shame there, though I would be very surprised to see him at the next level - even in a weak Wallabies team.
Big Steve
Guest
Could not agree with you more Bruce. Carter absolutely dominated club rugby the last few years and was by far the best back at the tah's last year. His combination with Halangahu was also more than useful and its amazing the tah's have not given them a start together. Tahu off the bench is a good option as the defence gets tired he should be able to rip through them if he ever gets the ball. But just cause you pay him a fortune doesn't mean he should start. Its a waste of maney anyway, atleast if he isn't on the field he can't miss tackles. I thought after the brumbies first 3 games vs the waratahs game we would never have to hear about mortlock at 12 again. He is the best 13 in the country but just not effective at 12. After Barnes Tyrone Smith and Carter are a much better option than cooper with his stupid hop step he does everytime he gets the ball.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Mr Ross, News fantasy comp, but lets not get into the differing sources and interpretations of stats!!! Bottom line is that the stats do no more than confirm what we see on the field. As regards Beale, he is making the most tackles of all the backs, kicking the goals, and calling the plays at 20 and without an apprenticeship outside an experienced player nor an on field mentor. Tough gig, particularly in the gaze of NSW Press and media
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Yes mate, he just needs Aaron Mauger at 12 to help him with the thinking on your feet stuff.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Sluggy - I have a couple of roses in my garden with the same name. Was like you surprised that the common offset to the rush defence wasnt used on Sat night. Makes you wonder who is thinking out there and who is going through the motions. Rugby is a simple game played in a battle ground. Decisions need to be made quickly and pressure needs to be applied continuously. You cant do that if your head is full of 14 different attacking options and 5 differing ideas from those around you. This is especially true if you are just 20 years old and a bit immature to start with.
Phil
Guest
Carter needs a new post try celebration
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Bruce, I first heard it in the recntly added (i.e. in the last decade) Maori verse of the NZ anthem. I agree with you about kicking generally, but a few well placed kicks behind the crew's rush defence on Saturday might have payed dividends. By well placed I mean not aimlessly booted down to the 22 but in the space behind the first, rush, line and the rear markers with Carter and Horne motoring onto them and either regathering or isolating the defender who gets it. 10 yards behind would be enough. I've posted in the topic of the tah's decision making in another thread so won 't repeat it here.
Bruce Ross
Roar Pro
Sluggy, you threw me with "Aeoteoroan," for which I had to resort to Google. You learn something new every day: I had never come across Aeoteoroa as a name for New Zealand. You are probably right about Deans's preferences, but speaking personally, I don't feel that we would lose anything if we had fewer backs whose first instinct is to kick the ball. I use the phrase, "pressure relieving kick", for aimless resorts to the boot when you have started to string phases together. You are gradually building pressure on the defence with successive phases: then you dissipate that pressure by hoofing it into the air. Dumb rugby.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Deans picked Hynes on the wing ahead of some more "flashy" alternatives, if he thinks Carter's good enough he will be in the squad, then as you say, when injuries bite he will het a chance . However, what do you make of his kicking out-of-hand? Deans prefers a 12 who can play the 2nd 5/8th role Aeoteoroan style. So he's more likely to bring Cooper on (as first reserve) if one of Barnes/Giteau goes off, then move Mortlock to 12 and bring on a replacement 13 - Cross, Tahu, AAC if Sherpard is in there at fullback. So unfortunately his chances seem limited unless he shows a sufficient kicking game. Not that I'm saying he can't kick, just that he doesn't do much kicking for the 'tahs.