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Fri 6 Nov 2015 | 10:14
Dan Carter converts final kick of Test career with his wrong foot

12
Comments

Dan Carter has kicked his final kick in Test rugby, and it was with the wrong foot. The leading points scorer in the history of the game bid farewell to international rugby with another stunning performance in the World Cup Final, ending his career on a high.

And in case you missed it amidst the euphoria of the back-to-back Rugby World Cup title celebrations, left-footed Carter slotted the final conversion with a sneaky right-footed kick.

Was it ever in doubt? This is Dan Carter. It sailed through, capping off another fine performance.

Carter ends his career as the leading points scorer in Test rugby, with 1598 points to his name. Jonny Wilkinson is second with 1246.

While this is technically his second Rugby World Cup win, in 2011 he got injured so never took part in the final.

He has said that it played on his mind, so he was as determined as ever to overcome the challenges he has faced in the last four years.

At this year's tournament he looked back to his very best, taking the ball to the line, making some audacious passes, and looking as calm and composed as ever in all facets of the game.

And the, the drop goals. He sunk South Africa in the semifinal, out of the blue, then in the Final from about 40m out he did it again. A snap-drop, barely in the pocket, taking the opposition by surprise but still managing to get a quality connection and maintain accuracy.

Carter was named Man of the Match in the final, and on Sunday night named World Rugby Player of the Year for 2015. It's the third time he's received that prestigious award.

Once the Rugby World Cup celebrations are over in New Zealand, Carter, now 33-years-old, will move to France to take up his place at Racing Metro.

Below is a quick look at that right-footed conversion. Unfortunately it happened so quickly so we never got any commentary reaction or proper replays. It was a brilliant way to end things though, and while with anyone else we might think it was cocky, knowing the character of Carter it was exectued with the same class he has shown throughout his career, both on and off the field.

Posted By: Grant Constable

12 Comments

  • 10stonenumber10
    9:43 AM 12/11/2015

    Most of those names retired in 2003, or very soon after. I think that is my only major criticism of Woodward... he built a team to win the World Cup, but didn't really plan for anything after. Rather than blooding youngsters, most of the squad were in the twilight of their careers. Wilko was only 23 when he won the World Cup though, what do you do if you reach the pinnacle of your sport before your career has even properly started? At least DC won stuff from beginning to end.

    It reminds me a bit of the PS1 version of Metal Gear Solid. The most amazing game, but way too short, you complete the final battle, the game ends, and you feel a little empty inside... "Is that it? 3 years anticipation for 3 hours work?"

  • stroudos
    12:58 PM 11/11/2015

    he'd have played as good as JW (dare I say better?) - "well" would be a start.....

    Whilst it's a valid point, particularly with regard to the post-2003/4 era for Wilkinson, here is a list of names that might temper that assertion that JW was not surrounded by immense players:
    Messrs Greenwood, Dawson, Johnson, Dallaglio, Hill, Back, Leonard, Thompson, Lewsey, Robinson, Moody & Catt.

  • drg
    11:50 PM 09/11/2015

    Exactly Dan Carter is an immense player in his own right, but one of the reasons he probably hasn't reached that solo status that JW seems to have, is that he was surrounded by equally immense players and he was part of a package - really no disrespect because I feel that had he had an English Grandmother and chose to play for England, he'd have played as good as JW (dare I say better?)... but a bit like how Sergio Parisse is one of the best 8's in the world, his trophy cabinet is quite empty due to the team surrounding him.. DC is one of the best 10's ever, but his trophy cabinet is extremely full, because he is rightly part of a fantastic team.

  • 10stonenumber10
    5:47 PM 09/11/2015

    points per game is the biggest story when it comes to 10s. DC averaged roughly an extra 3 points every two games while scoring 4 times as many tries... Wilko averaged 3 penalties a game, DC 2.5ish. With an extra 18% winning record, it shows the quality of the team he played with.

    It makes sense. How many games were won at the last gasp by a Wilko penalty? And how many games have been finished off by the ABs with a stonkingly heroic length of field try?

    I think a lot of it comes from club mentality. No disrespect to Falcons, but at best they were a mid table to top 3rd team, a far cry from Canterbury and the Crusaders. JW would go out and single-handedly win the game for Newcastle, whereas DC does his job well and the win comes naturally.

    Proportionally I think Wilko has scored at least 70% of England's total points during his career, even when the team didn't perform JW always kicked his goals. I doubt England (or any nation) will find another fly half of that calibre.

  • drg
    8:01 PM 08/11/2015

    Not to knock DC's records at all, because they're immense and they are purely his to have, but it also helps to be part of a world class winning team.. I mean the kiwis have won an obscene amount of games and they're never shy of scoring points. So if Carter is not directly the source of the points through tries.. he also gets the opportunity to achieve 2 points off the back of a try - Like I said, not to knock his record, because the AB's have a habit of scoring outwide so it's an immense solo achievement anyway!

    I think 1/2p could rack up a good tally, as could Sexton, but I struggle to see if they'll surpass DC just due to the fact that the teams they're playing for don't quite look like they'd ever get close to the records that the AB's have produced as a team... (which as you said, suggests DC's record could be safe for the next decade)...

  • stroudos
    8:34 AM 08/11/2015

    What an incredible match to finish your international career. Thoroughly well deserved and his achievements are just incredible. Almost as impressive is how he's not developed a massive ego. Look at the number of times in the past couple of years that he's played second fiddle to Cruden or Barrett, been shifted out to #12 or dropped from the side altogether. I remember seeing him running on the field as a water boy and giving the 10 on the day some positive encouragement, probably quite specific advice; his body language was just so positive and exuded a team-focused ethic. Even at the RWC trophy presentation, Offside Rich practically had to force him to put a hand on the trophy with him. For a bloke who is so individually influential, he has always seemed to be focused on the collective effort.

    Hard to imagine his points scoring record being overhauled any time in the next decade. Anyone remotely within reach is also retired:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_leading_rugby_union_test_point_scorers
    Of those still playing, Giteau has 698, Morning Stain(*) 694. But probably more likely to go on accumulating points at a fast rate (injuries permitting) are Leigh Halfpenny on 557 or Jonny Sexton on 530. All of these tallies are a VERY long way off 1,598.



    * Copyright Jed Thian, Alternative Rugby Commentaries

  • rugbydump
    8:25 PM 07/11/2015

    Yip, typo/brainfade. Thanks for pointing it out

  • 10stonenumber10
    2:59 AM 07/11/2015

    Achievement Unlocked: Groundhog Day 31G(+1)
    -Beat Australia in the World Cup Final with your other foot

  • 6:02 PM 06/11/2015

    Also missed was the Ozzie player trying to charge down the conversion. Bravo for fighting to the end

  • elvis15
    4:19 PM 06/11/2015

    "right-footed dropgoal"? It was a conversion from a tee wasn't it?

  • oldflyhalf
    4:15 PM 06/11/2015

    A subtle message and deserved for aussie, especially for aussi media. :)

  • danknapp
    4:00 PM 06/11/2015

    Delighted for the chap that he got to play in, and win, a RWC final. New Zealand are going to struggle to find any more players of his sort of abili... you know, I'm not going to finish that sentence.

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