Carter signs off with few regrets

Dan Carter admits 2015 has hardly been ideal, but when he peels-off his Crusaders jersey for the last time in Canberra on Saturday it will be with few regrets.

The All Black first five-eighths has prepared for his 141st, and final, match for the franchise against the Brumbies in the knowledge that there is no chance of the side advancing into the Super Rugby playoffs.

Trudging through Christchurch airport in his red and black kit for the final time yesterday, Carter, who along with his team-mates was preparing to fly to Australia, said the realisation his 13-year career with the Crusaders was all but over has crept up on him.

‘‘It’s only just started to hit me that this is it,’’ he reflected. ‘‘My last week of training – and my last game with the boys on Saturday afternoon. It’s going to be a little bit emotional. Obviously it’s been a frustrating year with the inconsistencies but if we can put in a performance to be proud of this week at least we can finish the season on a high.

‘‘I wouldn’t change anything throughout my Crusaders career.’’

The playmaker, who will become the world’s highest paid rugby player when he joins French outfit Racing Metro after the World Cup, said his only regret was that hadn’t won a Super Rugby title in his final season.

‘‘It’s blown all expectations in what I’ve achieved, I was happy to play just one game and I’ve won three titles. I never thought I’d get to these levels and the Crusaders environment has been everything I expected and more.’’

The 33-year-old said his career, which started against the Hurricanes in 2003, had passed so quickly it was difficult to process. With fellow first-fives Colin Slade and Tom Taylor also leaving for France at the end of the year, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has had to recruit the Waratahs’ Ben Volavola as a replacement.

‘‘It doesn’t seem that long ago I was one of the young guys in the team coming through,’’ Carter added. ‘‘You want this feeling to last forever but unfortunately it doesn’t.’’

The departing pivot would have loved to play his last game in Christchurch in front but was more interested in finishing with a victory than being concerned that it is in front of a Canberra crowd.

Carter said it made no difference weather he wore the 10 or 12 jersey against the Brumbies but did admit his best times have come at first five.

‘‘I just want to go out there and give it everything I’ve got one last time. I don’t think I’ll be doing much reflecting on my New Zealand career until next year when I’ll probably be missing it.’’