July 1, 2005. I sit slumped in a radio studio, crusty sleep in weary eyes. I am a producer and traffic announcer for Newstalk ZB in Wellington.
The job starts early and it’s mind-numbingly boring. Nothing ever happens on the road. I actually lose the gig when something does. Later I would announce a death on air. Bugger the newsroom, I am young and dumb – I have to have to have my Simon Dallow moment.
The phone rings a lot. It’s the only thing that keeps you awake. Typically it’s old ladies complaining.
“It’s New Zealand, not New Zzaland.”
“Can you turn the ads down?”
A red light flashes to warn you of impending calls. Ten minutes before this shift finishes, the red light erupts. After multiple rings, I reluctantly lift the receiver.
“Hello, Adam from Newstalk ZB, how can I help you?”
“Yeah, I got a couple of tickets to the Lions test I am looking to get rid of. Can you broadcast that on air?”
“No. They’re mine.”
This is a hot ticket. For the first time in New Zealand history tickets to a sporting event are sold by a ballot. I don’t care that I am a poor student, I must snaffle this chance. I scrounge around and eventually find the required $250 – a small bloody fortunate in my world.
The atmosphere at the Westpac Stadium is electric. The weather is balmy. The yellow seats are engulfed by red.
The Lions were steamrolled in the first Test, but spin doctor Alistair Campbell warns the British are resolute and ready. This is a bloke who fooled the whole of England into believing there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This king of deception could convince Barnardos to employ Charles Manson. His overtures make me very nervous.
The anxiety is heighted almost immediately when Welshman Gareth Thomas scores a try – a scorching angled-burst through the heart of the All Black defence.
The All Blacks struggle early, but after about 15 minutes Carter takes over. He fends off Gavin Henson – the fake tan is removed from that prima donna’s face – and Tana Umaga scores. An avalanche commences.
The All Blacks triumphed resoundingly, 48–18. Carter scored two tries, five penalties, and four conversions. He ended the match with 33 points, passing the previous All Blacks record of 18 points in a Lions Test (Carter’s second-half total of 22 points by itself was sufficient to top this).
The performance was later described by The Guardian as “the definitive fly-half display of the modern era”.
Wynne Gray, writing in The New Zealand Herald, described it as a “magic carpet ride”.
In June 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton. He scored 20 points against a mediocre Wales. We knew he was good, but did we really expect a magic carpet ride?
As John Davidson noted, “He’s won every accolade there is”.
“…twice IRB player of the year, twice Super Rugby player of the year, all-time Super Rugby and international top point scorer, Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders four times, Top 14 champion with Perpignan in 2009, slayer of the Lions in 2005, Tri-nations, Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup champion countless times.”
In 112 Tests Carter was on the winning side 99 times. Only 23 times did he fail to score double digits.
There were naturally speed bumps along the way. A broken leg, a fragile groin and a dodgy knee caused consternation.
The injures especially hampered Carter’s ability to attack the line with his usual gusto. He scored a world record 29 tries by a first-five, but remarkably his last five-pointer in a Test was against Scotland in 2010.
He has appeared in 35 of the last 68 All Black Tests. It’s a tribute to Carter’s strength of character and the selectors’ faith in him he was able to play so imperiously at this World Cup.
He might not run with the same exuberance, but there were certainly glimpses of the old flair.
Carter is a masterful tactician. He is more watchful in seniority, navigating the team coolly like a puppet master.
His drop goals were an empathic middle finger to his critics. His drop kicking was seen as an apparent weakness – no more.
Carter is the complete footballer.
God I am happy I picked up the receiver that day a decade ago. What a treat to witnesses the greatest from the greatest in the flesh.
Daniel William Carter, it has been a magic carpet ride.
cuw
Guest
this is his most recent interview. " Carter has a memorabilia room in his house but is not obsessive about his records. When I asked if he knew the precise total of his points record, he was stumped. ‘Oh, no idea. Close to 1,600? Am I right? Yes? Sorry, I know Bledisloe Cups, because I’ve never lost that.’ There was an Australian in the room. As a New Zealander, never having lost a series to the enemy is one of his proudest claims." :) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-3299500/DAN-CARTER-INTERVIEW-Blacks-Rugby-World-Cup-final-hero-going-war-mates-ribbed-right-footed-conversion-dream-finish-incredible-career.html
frisky
Guest
Illegally !! The ref was too gutless to card him so early in teh game.
frisky
Guest
Totally agree. Nonu should have ben Player of the Final. Who else could have scored that try? Carter’s kicking was excellent, but a large number of palyers can kick just as accurately. Admittedly the drop goal was something special. Watch the first 10 minutes of the game - Nonu was carving them up at will. He created that massive momentum.
dsat24
Guest
Kepu did a pretty good job of laying DC on the green carpet!?
Misha
Guest
Brian ODismal was hugely overrated - an average player who may have looked good in the 5 Nations but was completely destroyed whenever he set foot in Australia or NZ. My only memory of him was chattering and moaning like an old lady after a wet and cold Wellington test...
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
I miss Dan Carters running game. He's still got some of it but back when he was younger (pre injuries?) he was a good stepper and better at attacking the line. Someone should put together a bit of a youtube tribute... unless there is one out there already? One of the impressive things about Carter and McCaw - and I think this separates a good player from a great - is their ability to adjust their game as they get older and still deliver at the top level. It's a great example and a challenge set forth for guy like Sopoaga, Barrett and Cruden - they will lose their pace and their step over time but can they flesh out the other parts of their game? Playing in the NZ structure and system, you'd think the answer is yes. In Australia there is a similar challenge around creating more complete players. There are a lot that have potential and I hope they are coached to reduce their weaknesses as well as play to their strengths.
mace 22
Guest
Great player he is, but would he have attained this greatness if he played in another country. Brian Odriscal would be up there with the best of outside centres, heard him say in an interview wondering how much better he would've been if he played in a all black backline. The ABs play a style of game that lets players reach their full potential. So no player is greater than the sum of it's parts. The ABs will transition seamlessly after this year with no rebuilding phase other tems suffer from.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Thanks Adam. My favourite moment of the world cup was Carter running at the French line and giving off the little flick for Savea's try. It was like, after a few years in the wilderness, NZ had their old hero back again. After that, with his confidence up, he was always going to steer the side through the semi and final. Gavin Henson = fake tan :)
wardad
Guest
You might well qualify for an award yourself ,"Pettiest Poster " springs to mind .
Targa
Guest
DC has been a great player (and that Lions test performance was amazing - the highlights are on youtube) but surely Maa Nonu should have been a lay down misere for world player of the year (but Nonu wasn't even nominated!)!
ozinsa
Guest
He's something special alright but he's not even in the discussion for best player of 2015. Best player in the knockout stages of the World Cup? Maybe, possibly, probably. Best in the World Cup tournament? No. Best in 2015? Not even bloody close. Was a chance to miss the squad at one point according to some good judges so poor was his form. Love the bloke but what a total crock. Can we stop kissing all of their butts any time soon? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.