Winning Euro title Carter’s ‘top priority’
Dan Carter has spoken of his desire to win the European Champions Cup to tick off a major rugby career goal.
The former All Blacks ace inspired Racing 92 into the semifinals by setting up two tries in a quarterfinal defeat of French rivals Clermont Auvergne on Sunday (Monday NZ time).
Carter has won a French Top 14 title since joining Racing after a man of the match performance in the All Blacks’ 2015 Rugby World Cup final victory over Australia.
But he has only a runners-up medal in the European Champions Cup – so far.
"We have a huge urge to win the Champions Cup,’’ Carter said in The Guardian after the victory in Clermont.
‘‘It was my priority when I moved to France and this is my last opportunity.
‘‘ We made the final in 2016 and want to go one better but we cannot get ahead of ourselves because [semifinal opponents] Munster are a class side and we will have to pull out something special.’’
Carter has been receiving rave reviews for his vintage cameo performance off the bench for his Paris club in the French derby.
France’s Rugbyrama website named the 36-year-old in their XV of the Week and stated: ‘‘Carter proved his immense talent, which has been criticised for many weeks.
‘‘Great players answer at major events and Dan Carter does it very well.’’
Paul Rees, writing in the The Guardian, hailed Carter’s ability to ‘‘step into space and keep the ball alive’’ and said his career, which looked to be ‘‘fizzling out’’ ahead of a move to Japan, was ‘‘fizzing’’ again.
‘‘Racing is not a word associated with Dan Carter’s running style, which is more a languid glide as he assesses his options with defenders wrong-footed.
‘‘On a weekend when the intensity and quality of the four [Champions Cup] matches was virtually international standard it was fitting that one of the leading players of his generation played a leading part.’’