All Blacks great Dan Carter believes the upcoming Tests against the Springboks could define their year under new coach Dave Rennie.
Speaking on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, Carter said the All Blacks face a brutal international schedule that includes the highly-anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clashes against the back-to-back world champions.
“We’ve got a lot of potential, and we’re going to be challenged and tested more this year than potentially in the past with the schedule that’s ahead of them, and that’s exciting, that’s what you want,” Carter said.
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“That’s what as an international rugby player (and) as an All Black you want.
“The toughest and hardest challenges. You don’t want an easy road, and we definitely don’t have that this year with the Nations Cup and the Test matches that we have and then obviously with Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry as well, which is going to be epic.”
The Springboks currently sit atop World Rugby’s rankings, with New Zealand in second place, something Carter admits should fuel the All Blacks’ hunger.
“We’re still ranked second in the world? I’m not sure. It’s not too bad,” he said.
“I love the fact that if we’re not number one, then we’re asking questions and challenging, because we never want to accept that we shouldn’t be number one.”
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Carter believes the All Blacks have the talent to reclaim top spot, but says consistency will be key under the current coaching group.
“So, it’s a really exciting time.
“New coaching groups and some new ideas, you know really try and keep connecting as a group and play at a level that we know we’re capable of and we’ve shown in the last couple of years but just trying to have that consistency to be able to sort of back it up week in week out.”
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
The post Carter: Bok battles to define All Blacks’ season appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
All Blacks great Dan Carter believes the upcoming Tests against the Springboks could define their year under new coach Dave Rennie.
The post Carter: Bok battles to define All Blacks’ season appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
