Carter toes the party line

Angry Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti has accused Dan Carter and his team-mates of too much partying as the defence of their French Top 14 title hangs by a thread.

Lorenzetti has announced shock plans to merge with fellow Paris club Stade Francais, but his immediate concern was trying to turn their current season around.

Racing’s 38-15 loss to league leader La Rochelle at the weekend – where Carter was booed off by fans after an hour – has left them six points off the playoffs pace with six matches left.

Lorenzetti is trying to find out where it all went wrong. The loss of form by Carter, his star signing, has also mystified him, yhough he has a theory.

Lorenzetti said he had the impression Carter was ‘‘perfect’’ but he had found out otherwise. ‘‘Finally it was discovered that he knew how to party,’’ Lorenzetti told The Parisian yesterday.

He suggested the double Rugby World Cup winner was distracted by ‘‘too many public relations operations’’. ‘‘We will try to refocus him on rugby. The guy is responsible and big enough, I think he’s going to do it on his own, we do not need to talk to him about it. He understands.’’

Carter is facing a drink-driving charge after being stopped by police in Paris last month.

Carter is in the middle of a three-year deal, but the 35-yearold’s current struggles will bring into question his place in a merged club.

Lorenzetti admitted surprise at the fans’ reaction to Carter last weekend when he returned to play for the first time since late January because of a groin issue.

‘‘Dan came in certain conditions, promising a lot. He gave a lot last year and it’s normal that the fans expect a lot from him,’’ he said.