Daniel Carter - Simply sensational

[Mal Meninga]

After a superb Super 12, and the first couple tests against Fiji and Lions, is it a foregone conclussion that he is the best player in the world? Before I doubted his ability to run but those doubts have now been rested, and along with his near perfect goal kicking, faultless organising and field kicking, and damn he's one of a kind.

Thoughts?

 

[Iafeta]

Best player in the world. Unquestionably. Anyone who thinks different needs psychiatric help.

 

[ThrashViking]

I rate Matt Giteau very highly but geez this guys is going to go down as new zealands best first five ever easily.
Fautless display.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'm not going to vote yes simply because that would involve comparing Carter to Wilkinson, and that's an insult to Carter as Jonny is a second rate hack who isn't fit to lace Carters's boots. The only department he's even close to Carter in is goalkicking. Carter is the best #10 in world rugby by a mile.

 

[Mal Meninga]

Note I also posted this at half time, his 2nd half was incredible.
Wilkinson may not be sparkling, but he's won a WC on his boot.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Wilkinson may not be sparkling, but he's won a WC on his boot.

Wilkinson did not win the WC for England, it was Martin Johnson's forward pack that did that. Wilkinson just potted the goals that they put him in the field possition to do and any other decent goalkicer could've done the same. Overrated.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Planet Rugby gave Carter an 11/10 in their player ratings!!! The scary thing is he just about deserved it....

http://www.planetrugby.com/News/story_44640.shtml

 

[ThrashViking]

10/10 for McCaw as well.
I couldnt really say who the best player is in the world because I cant compare McCaw & Carter, he was just incredible and the scarey thing is it was just another average preformance by him.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I thought Carter was even better than his usual (high) standards, McCaw was his usual self, but when you're universally regarded s the best in the world in your position alreqady then that hardly matters. Credit to Umaga too, he absolutely dominated the midfield at a time when you'd think he might've been put off his game.

 

[ThrashViking]

Tana is certainly leading the way, I think he's been the best of the series so far & really leading the All Blacks well.
I would of thought the British press wouldve of got to him but he's playing his best rugby this year.

 

[Mal Meninga]

Wilkinson did not win the WC for England, it was Martin Johnson's forward pack that did that. Wilkinson just potted the goals that they put him in the field possition to do and any other decent goalkicer could've done the same. Overrated.

If you say so. IMO, Wilkinson was just as important as the English forwards. Johnson's lineout is just as important as Wilkinsons boot. Anyone who has the nerves of steel to slot home those shots in pressure situations is worthy of anyones praises. That's my stance on the issue, but I wasn't alluding Carters ability to being 'like Wilkinsons'. Rather the belief that to win Bill, you need the premier #10, and NZ now has the final peice of the puzzle.

Just an aside, goalkickers are a dime in a dozen, but Mehrtens who is a master at knocking them from general player and place kicks, couldn't get the job done in 95.

 

[ozbash]

what awesome defence, the All Blacks were positively brutal.

fantastic game and hopefully enough to shut sir clive up for at least 6 days.

go auckland on tuesday, first time ive ever backed them

 

[ThrashViking]

All Blacks star Daniel Carter will miss the third test against the Lions in Auckland on Saturday from a shoulder injury suffered in his starring role in the series-clinching win in Wellington.

The All Blacks confirmed on Sunday that Carter had a bruised AC joint in his left shoulder and won't play at Eden Park.

Second five-eighths Aaron Mauger has also been forced out of the third test with a hamstring injury.

The pair have carried their Super 12-winning form into the series with the Lions and struck a superb partnership at international level where Carter is rapidly making his way in the No 10 jersey.

He scored a record 33 points against the Lions in the All Blacks record 48-18 win at the Cake Tin.

Mauger was forced off in the first half with his injury and Carter was hurt not long before the final whistle.

"Daniel got hurt when Richie McCaw scored his try and he got dropped just short of the line," said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.

Hansen said both Carter and Mauger should be fit for the Tri Nations. He doubted Carter would have been right to play at Eden Park on Saturday, even if the All Blacks were tied at 1-all. With the series won, they had the luxury of working on his rehabilitation

"It would have been a bigger blow if we were at 1-all. There's no point in risking anyone who is not 100% fit."

Hansen said the All Blacks were still working through their replacement options. These would probably come from the Junior All Blacks squad while they would also watch Tuesday night's tour match between the Lions and Auckland with interest.

There was a strong suggestion the All Blacks could look to cover first five-eighths with Leon MacDonald who played most of his season in Japan there before switching back to fullback with the Crusaders and the All Blacks.

Nick Evans would be a strong contender to make the move back to the test scene from the Junior All Blacks.

The All Blacks have plenty of midfield options to cover Mauger's absence.

Tana Umaga could sip into second five allowing a start for Conrad Smith who hasn't featured in the series yet.

Ma'a Nonu is another possibility while there is also Mils Muliaina who moved into centre during the second test when the backline was shuffled through the loss of Mauger.

Hansen said there was no point in publicly signalling their intentions yet to give Sir Clive Woodward any early leads into their new thinking.

 

[strong_latte]

I'm an Aussie and I have to say Carter is without a doubt the best Fly Half in the world! His impact was similar to the dominating form that Andrew Johns displayed in this years State of Origin 2.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

No problem with Carter being rested, we can still win it. We've got to make sure the backup are match fit anyway.

 

[Gipper]

I'm an Aussie and I have to say Carter is without a doubt the best Fly Half in the world! His impact was similar to the dominating form that Andrew Johns displayed in this years State of Origin 2.

SANZAR?