England lost to the All Blacks again on Saturday, simply out classed in the second test, debutant Richard Kahui showed the world how an outside centre should play. Explosive, powerful, straight lines aiming for gaps, looking for space, supporting wingers and tackling like a machine. This seems to be the biggest difference between the opposing backlines. The Kiwis create and run against the drift into spaces, the English backline simply went searching for contact and tried to bash their way up field. Unfortunately, modern day rugby doesn't work like that anymore, you have to be a lot smarter against modern day defences.
One man shone through once more for the All Blacks however, that man Daniel Carter. Again, the distant shouts of him being called the best player in the world have begun their song and why shouldn't they? For those who aren't quite sure of why he is the best player in the world i shall attempt to explain, i will also look into the horizon and see if their is anyone currently playing who could de-throne him.
It is well known that the modern rugby player is faster, bigger, fitter and stronger than at any point in the games history, and there has been a tendency to simply spend all the time in gym rather than the practice park. Then the thinking mans players began to shone through again, led by Carter. In short he probably is the best player in the world, but you have to put that into context. It is impossible to be the best in every position because the physical attributes required are almost incomparable between certain positions. For now, let's call him the best back or at least fly-half in the world. Just to be on the safe side.
Carter not only has an arsenal of skills that exceeds pretty much every other player in the world, but he has the brain, confidence and maturity to use them. He also has that "x-factor", that presence on a rugby field that makes a defence second guess itself. He always seems to make the correct decision, nothing on to the outside, one man has charged up out of defence to charge the kick, so he dummies the kick and off he goes. On the other hand, a rush defence blocks the long pass off so either a flick inside to a charging forward or a neat kick across the field or behind the rush. His ability to adapt his game to suit those around him and to suit the best way to break the opposition defence is uncanny.
I'm going to say it, and while Ma'a Nonu is getting better, Luke McAlister is looking to be one of the best centres in the world. Almost up their with Carter himself, in terms of skills but his dynamic running and bulk gave Carter more options with which to use the backline. Now he has a running 12 to work with he has adapted his game to bring him into and over the defensive line. He is used to fix defenders allowing Carter to open options wider a field.
Daniel Carter's athleticism allow him to step and jink and hand off like a big centre and can cut defences apart on his own seemingly with ease. He did it several times to England and it led to points on the board almost every time. For this reason he has a presence on the field, that something extra that makes him standout.
Then we move on to his place kicking, a fluid, easy going style that means he can pretty much slot a kick from just about anywhere in his own half. He may lack the distances that Luke McAlister and Francois Steyn can achieve but those monster kicks you see are a rarity and don't count for many points over the course of time. The ability to strike them sweetly under pressure, or in difficult position almost 100% of the time is what makes a great kicker. Just look at Neil Jenkins or Jonny Wilkinson, neither when at their peek were the biggest kickers in the world but accuracy is better than power.
What about contenders for Carter's title however? As an Englishman I suppose I have to say Danny Cipriani, but I just think, before his horrific and unfortunate incident in the Guinness Premiership semi, that he tries to do to much on his own, and relies on his speed to make these drifting runs, when these runs don't work the defence can easily drift and push the attack into contact. However, in a few years he could well be very much up at the top of the world with Carter.
Then we have the Argentinian contender Juan Martin Hernandez. I have to say he was my favourite player throughout the World Cup and would love to see him finally starting week in and week out as a fly-half at Leicester, as oppose to being butted out at Stade Francais. He is definitely the best full-back in the world, but he transferred his skills so effortlessly to playing at 10, and while he did force things every now and again, he simply needs time to play in that position to show what he can do. Stade simply don't allow him that time considering they hold 3 of Frances last 5 fly- half's.
Whatever may be the case, the thing i am most cetain of is that there has never been a point where so many young and exciting prospects have started to come through from all corners of the earth, Ryan Lamb for example i believe is a better player than Cipriani. Lamb has a better step and uses his outside backs more effectively. By the 2011 World Cup, there will be more creative, fluid and exciting rugby than ever before, and i can't wait.
We also wait to see how the All Blacks will cope when Carter and McCaw go on their sabbaticals, and whether they will still be in form come 2011. Right now however, Carter is on top of the world and is at his destructive best just as he was in 2005 against the Lions, and while I don't like to see it happen against England, it is still fabulous to watch.
comments (8) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
I completely agree with you about Ryan Lamb, why he wasn't taken to New Zealand I don't know. And at the moment Carter's in a world with his skill. Good read.
3 months ago
What about the Springboks? Players like Scalk Burger and Victor Matfield are the worlds best at what they do too.....
3 months ago
"What about the Springboks? Players like Scalk Burger and Victor Matfield are the worlds best at what they do too....."
Forwards and the Blog does qualify the Carter assessment in this regard. From my biased position Scalk Burger is still a shade behind McCaw. Matfield is clearly the best lock. But in context look at the influence on the game and that measure in itself sets Carter and to a similar extent McCaw apart. These judgements are allways going to be subjective and each players skills must in turn be measured upon how he fits into his own team's patterns. For example take So'oialo. He is an exceptional player in my view, who fits the NZ pattern becasue he has the pace to keep up with McCaw. I doubt he would be as useful for South Africa for example who look to play a different style of loose forward game.
3 months ago
Carter is the Perfect Flyhalf. He has it all. Team Player, Skill, Defence, Boot and he's HUMBLE!
And for the Title I would rather say Carter the Best Flyhalf in the world, because there are 15 Positions and they all require different skill sets.
Like McCaw is the best flanker with Schalk close second. Matfield is the tops of the Locks.
JDV best inside Centre with Fourie de Preez tops of the Halfback.
What about the Game coming up... Boks vs All Blacks 2 Back to Back games in NZ. CAN the Boks break the 10 year drought. This is probably the best chance they have for a long time.
3 months ago
I did state in the article the difference in terms of skills sets and how a forward and a back ultimately have different roles and skills. Nick Kennedy, Victor Matfield, Paul O'Connel are all masters of the line out but put them in the backs and they would be pretty much useless when compared to the likes of Carter and Hernandez. The way a team plays is also so important, as Mark said So'oialo works brilliantly in the All Blacks pattern, but look how Charlie Hodgson plays when he put in a different shirt other than a Sale Sharks shirt. Thats not to get down on Charlie mind i tinhk he is a brilliant player as i have stated in one of my other articles.
JDV has been the most permanent stallwart as one of the best 12's for a long time, lets not forget Yannick Jauzion, on his day he can take on any one. Fourie du Preez i tinhk now faces really stiff competition in the next 2 maybe 3 years. Matt Burgess, Harry Ellis, Andy Ellis, the young Natal Sharks scrum half whose name i can never remember, are all great 9's and are getting better with every game.
I think the NZ and SA game will be a massive battle, i tinhk the springboks will get the better of the All Blacks as weaknesses in the All Black game are there and a team as tight nit as SA will exploit them ruthlessly.
Habana v Sivivatu is going to be interesting, as will Andy Ellis and Du Preez going head to head.
2 months ago
I agree with Carter as no1 at fly half, but i'd put Matt Giteau at no2 and not by much. Burger is a good loosey but i'd put George Smith just behind Richi McCaw, Rocky Elsome is not far away also. Matfield is the best Lock but his days are numbered due to age. Burges will be the best no 9 in years with a few more games under his belt. Wilkinsons a great no 10, but you have to do more than kick goals these days, he would be 6 or 7 on my list. Habana is the best wing. The South African team is scary right now but aging. The Wallabies look the goods for the next world cup because of the new talent and age of their team, they alwready look scary and with Robby Deans, could become invincible.
2 months ago
Would like to throw Matty Giteau in the mix. Incredibly talented rugby player. He could be a world-class player in 3 positions - scrum half/flyhalf/inside centre. But obviously your going to get more bang for your buck at having in wear the no.10. Although Carter has been for a while, and still is, the undisputed king of the no.10 position, I think that in the short future, people will see Giteau alongside his NZ rival. Many great minded rugby identities are already putting Giteau on par with Carter as the two best flyhalfs. What is intersting is that Giteau is already a true worldclass player, but is still improving in massive doses. All parts of his game are improving, but notably, his kicking (in play, for touch, goal kicking and drop-goal kicking - he sealed the win against the AB with a drop goal with his wrong-foot!) is just awesome and his positional kicking, along with his kicks from his own 22, is actually ridiculous. Will be great to see how these two ridiculously talented players head up against one another in the future. Carter and Giteau - awesome.
2 months ago
Im going to write an article comparing the 2 (Carter and Giteau) now so hope you all read it and i look forward to hearing ur views on my analysis.
write a new comment