TIME IS RUNNING out for DC10 to make an impact ahead of autumn’s World Cup and Dan Carter missed an opportunity to make a statement against some big All Black rivals today.
If Super Rugby was a dystopian competition where players were assigned numbers instead of names, you probably wouldn’t be able to pick Carter out of a line-up based on this season’s performances.
At his age, he is naturally no longer as sharp in the loose but surprisingly his kicking, both from the tee and out of hand, has been inconsistent in this campaign too.
He was selected at 12 for the Crusaders’ derby game with the Chiefs in Christchurch and he couldn’t stop Sonny Bill’s boys easing to a 26-9 away win.
Given that Carter was playing against Aaron Cruden, one of his competitors along with Beauden Barrett in the New Zealand number ten triple threat match, it would have been a good time for the veteran to rediscover his best form.
Unfortunately for Carter, it never really materialised because after missing an early kick, the visitors took control. An uncharacteristic Richie McCaw fumble was punished with a five-pointer by Chiefs number eight Michael Leitch and then right on half time, wing Tim Nanai-Williams ruthlessly exploited a turnover with his searing pace to extend the lead.
Despite multiple All Blacks on show – incumbent second rows Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick went head-to-head – it was actually Nanai-Williams, who has declared for Samoa rather than fight for an All Blacks place, who dominated.
He capped off his prolific night with this gorgeous offload back inside for replacement Liam Squire to cap the scoring.
After being so unlucky to miss out on the 2011 triumph, it would be great for Carter to play his way back into the New Zealand team but with Cruden and Barrett looking so potent, the maestro will need to step up his game in the second half of the season if he wants to nail down a starting place at the World Cup.
He is absolutely right. For far too long the mentality is and this even goes to the our nick name the ” wee county ” that we are a small county so we dont expect to do well. If we beat a Kildare or a Meath the year is a success which is not acceptable. We have a bigger population than most. Louth does have a large choice to pick from. Look at the counties that surround Louth. Dublin, Meath, Monaghan, Armagh and Down have all enjoyed success in All Ireland competition were Louth is left behind. The question has to be asked, why? Cause the mentality is not right, we shoukd be expecting to beat the teams I just mentioned except for Dublin who are a professional team in everything but name. Dublin are showing the future of GAA and fair play to them.
what would you describe as success would it be winning Leinster?
Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.
Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.
improvement in the league might be more realistic over the next couple of years as this dublin squad and management have a fixation on winning and that includes Leinster titles and I agree as a dub I would love to see Louth challenge for leinsters
Louth have a bigger population than Kilkenny…so it’s not about population.
Patrick you say you should be expecting to beat teams except Dublin that’s great mentality way better so getting to a Leinster final and its against Dublin do you reckon there’s any point in heading up to croke park
infairness Robbie he is been realistic
Baby steps Robbie, baby steps!!!
Baby steps for life I’m afraid !