All Blacks maestro Dan Carter admits he was below his best in the Crusaders’ season-opening Super Rugby loss to the Blues and he aims to step up against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday night.
While the Crusaders have made a disappointing start so, too, have the Hurricanes who have suffered defeats at home to the Blues and away to the Reds.
Carter, with five penalties, kicked all the Crusaders’ points as they were beaten 34-15 at Eden Park last Friday night.
However, the 94-Test All Black’s positional kicking lacked its usual length and placement and he seldom carried the ball to the line.
“Looking at the last few years and my first couple of games, I’ve been quite slow, but I’ll be better for having the hit-out,” Carter said on Wednesday.
“I realise now the intensity I need to get up to and hopefully I’ll keep building and get better each week.”
Carter, who turned 31 on Tuesday, said he remained highly motivated to play for the Crusaders and the All Blacks despite reports that he was close to signing a contract with Japanese club Toyota.
He dismissed the reports as speculation and said he was unaware of them until told earlier in the day.
“I’ve committed to a full season playing rugby in New Zealand and I want to play as much footy this year as I can for the Crusaders and in the black jersey.”
All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg has been moved back to the Crusaders’ No.15 jersey for the clash with the Hurricanes after filling in on the left wing against the Blues.
He replaces Tom Taylor, who drops to the reserves, with Johnny McNicholl returning from injury to take over on the left wing.
The move is one of three personnel changes that coach Todd Blackadder made to his starting 15.
On the right wing, Tom Marshall is elevated from the bench in a straight swap with Adam Whitelock.
The other change was forced by injury, with lock Luke Romano’s rib problem meaning Dominic Bird, who impressed off the bench at Eden Park on his Super Rugby debut, coming in.
The match will feature the first contest between All Blacks propping brothers Owen and Ben Franks, the latter having moved from the Crusaders to the Hurricanes in the off-season.
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Tom Donnelly, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Adam Whitelock.
