Carter admits Irish teams are the ones to beat
DAN CARTER has admitted that the Irish sides are the teams to beat in Europe this season, but the All Blacks legend hopes to sign off with Racing 92 by beating first Munster, and then Leinster to win the Champions Cup.
Despite being 36 years old and 11,000 miles from the rugby mecca of New Zealand, Carter is still the hottest ticket in the sport. He sat next to Alex Ferguson at last month’s game between PSG and Real Madrid while Joseph Parker invited him to his recent fight with Anthony Joshua. He even had lunch with the New Zealand prime minister
Jacinda Ardern during her visit to Paris last Monday.
Having made his All Blacks debut in 2003, however, the No 10 is approaching the final six weeks of his toplevel career, before moving to Japan in the summer. He will face Munster today in Bordeaux — with the aim of making the Champions Cup the final major addition to his medal collection back in his home town of Southbridge.
‘Winning Europe was one of my main motivations for coming here,’ he said, having sparked victory from the bench in the quarter finals — and continuing as a replacement today.
‘It will be tough because Irish rugby is on such a high… most Kiwis enjoyed the Six Nations this year and Munster and Leinster have been the form clubs in Europe.
‘But it would be a nice way to sign out of French rugby.’