Has Dan Carter's time finally arrived?

Arguably the greatest fly-half to ever grace the game of rugby, Dan Carter has won numerous accolades over the years and won games almost single-handedly. It then seems ridiculous to think that the two-time IRB Player of the Year winner and all-time leading point scorer in test rugby has started one game of the knockout stages in the four World Cups he has participated in – and only lasted 55 minutes as France infamously knocked the All Blacks out of the tournament in 2007. Now 33 and in the twilight of his career, Carter will hope that he can remain fit and help his side to another World Cup triumph. This will be his last chance to cement in place in rugby folklore as one of the finest to ever play the game.

The last time Carter played in the knockout stage of the World Cup, it was at the same venue, against the same opposition. He came into the game with an injured ankle but Graham Henry and his staff took a gamble and decided to start Carter rather than rest him. Having not trained with the squad all week in order to recover, Carter struggled to have any significant impact before limping off injured after 55 minutes with the scores level. Without his presence the All Blacks succumbed to the French pressure, and as controversial as it might have been, ultimately lost and were dumped out of the tournament they seemed destined to win. Carter watched everything unfold from the bench, dismayed that he could not get back out on the field and wrestle the game back in his teams favour.

Four years later and Carter was back to his best, tearing defences apart at will in the pool stages. It seemed like he would play a vital as the All Blacks attempted to win their second World Cup at home and first in 24 years. But injury came calling again, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament. It was a disappointing, yet almost expected outcome. If anything was going to derail the All Blacks campaign, it was going to be Carter getting injured. Luckily, Piri Weepu and a certain Stephen Donald managed to fill the massive hole left by Carter, as the All Blacks scraped past France in the final to win the tournament. Even though Carter was all smiles during the parade after the tournament, his sunglasses withheld the regret and disappointment he must have felt.

Now here he is once more, finally ready to prove his worth on the biggest stage. It has been a turbulent tournament for Carter thus far. His goal-kicking has been worryingly inconsistent, having had a poor performance against Georgia following a solid showing in the opening game against Argentina. While still kicking at 80% for the tournament, it is the fact that he is struggling to convert the harder chances regularly. Perhaps this shows how spoilt we All Black fans are, but compared to others like Australia’s Bernard Foley or Wales’s Dan Biggar, Carter has looked slightly off-colour. Yet he is the best that we have. He may not be as good in open play these days compared to Beauden Barrett, but his kicking is still far superior. That reason alone is why Carter is still the man trusted with the All Black No.10 jersey. At least if he does go down this time, we have cover in Barrett, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga. But that would not be a fitting way for a player of Carter’s calibre to depart international rugby. His experience and tactical nous are simply too great to be replaced, no matter how good the backup is.

If the All Blacks do win on Sunday morning against France, Carter will have played a vital role with the boot. After years of tournament ending injuries and disappointment, the time has come for Dan Carter to stamp his mark on the Webb Ellis Cup and show the world why he is the greatest of all time. 

3 Reasons the All Blacks won't lose on Saturday

Here we go again. World Cup Quarter-final. France. Cardiff. Wayne Barnes? It's the nightmare every All Blacks fan would like to forget, but alas, here it is, back again, ready to haunt all of us once more. Mind you, there are plenty of reasons to be confident about the rematch of sorts on Sunday morning. Here's why the All Blacks won't lose to France on Sunday:

1. This isn't 2007

The nightmare is old and stale. Eight years is a long time and things have moved on. The All Blacks are defending world champions and twelve members of the current squad helped hoist the trophy four years ago. This team has the experience that the 2007 team lacked. They have been there and done that. Nothing seems to scare this All Black side anymore. This is a team that has gone a whole year unbeaten and lost a total of four games since the last World Cup. Revenge is sweet, and that's the feeling this side will be craving all week.

France meanwhile have been playing in a manner that only the French could - brilliant one game, terrible the next. They were rather tepid against Ireland in their crucial group game, but you can never rule them out of any contest come playoff time. Yet it was the way they lost that was concerning. The Irish had no troubles defending the rare attacks from the opposition, and the lack of fast-flowing, almost improvised play that the French have become known for, would have been concerning to their supporters. While they could have been saving themselves for the All Blacks, they don't look like the team that shocked the world eight years ago.

2. Depth

Probably the most important aspect of this All Black side moving into the knockout stages is their immense depth. No longer are the players on the bench lacking in experience or ability. This squad is equally brilliant from top to bottom. The fact that players like Charles Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, and Israel Dagg could not force their way into the squad shows just how talented this bunch is. It is important to note just how vital their bench has been over the last 24 months. Games have often been won by the impact substitutions in the closing stages of games, breaking through tired backlines with pace and skill. That kind of ability becomes crucial at this point of the tournament, and could just see this team go all the way once more.

3. Playing 80 minutes

80 minutes. That's the length of a rugby game. It's also the length of time that this All Black team plays their hearts out. They have been able to grind out results by continuing to press their opposition right until the final whistle, and it has become a real weapon. In 2013, when it looked like Ireland were finally going to break the hoodoo and beat the All Blacks for the first time in their history, the boys in black somehow managed to find the energy to score a try after the horn had sounded, securing an astonishing win. This kind of resilience and perseverance could be the difference against France, and is a key reason why the All Blacks will not lose this game.