Praised: Dan Carter
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Wales coach Shaun Edwards likened All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter to FC Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi ahead of their clash on November 24.
Edwards was speaking during the lead-up to their game against Samoa at the Millennium Stadium, with Wales entering following a loss to Argentina.
But after what was a truly exceptional performance from Carter against Scotland over the weekend, Edwards found time to praise the mercurial pivot.
"He is a once in a generation player, isn't he?" Edwards told Press Association Sport.
"You have to sometimes stand back - it's like watching Lionel Messi play football - and realise that you are just glad you were around to see him.
"I just hope he doesn't play too good against us.
"I thought after Scotland intercepted a Carter pass and scored a try, it was probably the worst thing that could have happened to them.
"He was absolutely breathtaking after that. He virtually took it upon himself to correct what he had done wrong and the tries flowed for New Zealand."
Comments
Spartacus says...
@nzmaoriboy - rugby always wins, and the heated debates between fans is part of it. Michael Jones v McCaw would always be a cracker. McCaw is legend, but he never got the kicking that Jones got, so maybe you are right to pick him. Would back my front row against yours in a stand up scrap though!
Posted 22:56 19th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Yep it is hard to pick players from differing Decades as rugby has changed so much! and different players had different qualities for the teams they represented.You can see we both like our rugby & can probably name several good teams...So at the end of the day Bro "rugby's the winner" Cliche'ism
Posted 16:55 19th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@nzmaoriboy -
Good team, mostly agree. For fun I have picked a team with none of the same players, and I cant see much difference in quality.
(15)Joubert (14)Roff (13)Mortlock (12)Gerber (11)Chester Williams (10)err...Larkham (9)Joost (8)Parisse (7)McCaw (6)Kruger (5) Matfield (4) Andrews (3) Paparemborde (2)Uli Schmidt (1) David Sole
Still feel like I have left out many great players.
Posted 14:07 19th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@Chiefporky - I thought Larkham was fantastic under pressure, and never got flustered. I also thought he ran a better backlne, even though he was often under pressure due to a poor pack. I know Carter is probably more of an all rounder, but if you had another kicker in the team then Larkham was the man for me.
Posted 12:24 19th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
(15)Blanco (14)Campese (13)Sella (12)Horan (11)Jonah (10)err...Carter (9)Du preez (8)Zinzan (7)michael jones (6)Richard Hill (5) Eales (4) Johnson (3) Leonard (2)fitzpatrick (1)Du randt
Posted 08:48 19th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
@spartacus...Thats easy for me my number 15 would be Serge Blanco! He was just a magnificent player to watch, He always had a smile on his dial when he played & had that perfect balance of control vs flair, you could always see the enthusiasm and joy he got out of playing rugby. A memory that always stuck with me is that when he toured NZ he was an absolute rock star! he was always swarmed by children & Fans, yet he was humble and always had time for everybody. A true gentleman & legend of the game.
Posted 08:40 19th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@nzmaoriboy - ignoring the non-rugby stuff, great comments. like it! personally, if I was picking my fantasy team v alien 15, then Larkham would be my 10. Respect that you would pick Carter.
What would be your 15?
Posted 21:49 18th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Ha ha! still talking tough and throwing insults how pointless is that?? Mr Fire hot...fire burn..ha ha..And get it right you don't Talk "RUGBY"..its called attempting to talk your version off rugby (all good). & to quit this last word crescendo scenario we have turned this "conversation" into. I will state Larkham was an excellent rugby player "But" I would be interested to see if he would even be Australias best flyhalf! we did see last year during the build up to the RWC many teams picking their history of RWC teams..Michael Lynagh came second too Wilkinson! Outside of RWC we also hear alot about Mark Ella. There is no denying that the Larkham/Gregan combo goes up as the greatest of all time but were they the sum of all their parts?? (bite my tongue) english quote. Larkham was a super rugby halfback converted to flyhalf hell i remember his first brumbies game (I liked the brumbies as I had played rugby with Jeremy Paul..the man). Larkham could tackle! tough as teak..played through injury..challenged the line..slip through the line as often..And he could thread good passes! He rarely looked under pressure when he played. I believe Carter is capable of all these traits (some not as good/some better) but he is def superior in the kicking category both tactically & power wise which is an important PART of a fly halfs game..I have stated my case for you bro? lets just leave it at Larkham is awesome in your world bro & I will stick with Carter or wilkinson or Merhts or Porta or that welsh geezer
Posted 17:07 18th November 2012
Chiefporky says...
Spartacus, of course you can have your opinion and Larkham was a hell of a player.
Out of interest though specifically which part of Larkhams game do you feel is stronger than Carters and why?
As I say just interested to hear the reasons of your thoughts.
Look forward to hearing them mate cheers!
Posted 00:47 18th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@nzmaoriboy - yeah, you played rugby and represented your country, at ballet!
You keep on churning out stats, I will talk about rugby.
If you are the rugby man you claim to be, then you would talk about Larkham and make some intelligent comments about why you think Carter is so superior. Saying Carter has kicked more goals is irrelevant as Larkham was never the main kicker (although he scored a very important drop!!).
Posted 20:45 17th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Ha ha! several examples?? Flexing your muscles on a keyboard..Really tough!.Oh i played rugby (& represented my country too) how bout you Mr stats mean nothing ?? In a match particular stats tell one story not the whole fool...Territory.. possession..missed throws..scrums...penalties..I think you might find statistically that the team whom scores the most points always win! Unless of course you want to back your train of thought where points(a stat) means nothing ohhh clever guy.
Posted 16:33 17th November 2012
Spartacus says...
nzmaoriboy - I have given you several examples of how stats can be used to paint an incorrect picture.
You stick to stats you clown! I will stick to rugby.
Posted 15:09 17th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
stats are just numbers! (Rocket scientist)..Stats tell the true story! stats do not have bias &/or emotional connection to Statements...they are facts.
@spartacus it is ok to believe someone is the greatest...Just like its okay to believe in Santa & unicorns..
Posted 21:48 16th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@Isograford - what has my country got to do with it? My opinion is that Larkham was a better player.
@nzmaoriboy - stats are just numbers used to try and make a point. How often do you hear commentators say that one team is dominant (due to stats) when the scoreboard says otherwise. As another example of stats, of the four 10's that I listed, 3 have played in and won a World Cup final. Does that mean Butch James is better than Carter? Obviously not, so stats need to be taken with a pinch of salt
@kennyisg*y - agree about BOD, but you failed to mention that he is a whining b*tch
Posted 15:57 16th November 2012
firepower says...
@Jediboy please don't forget England golden boy *Jonny Wilkinson*
Posted 03:01 16th November 2012
kennyisgay says...
atg77... brian o'driscoll a superior athlete? You're taking the piss love aren't ya? The most overrated player of his generation who's survived through lack of talent in the emerald isle. The most uninspiring skipper of all time. The biggest sook of them all. Most selfish individual who's own interest comes before his so called beloved country (ie he knows his availability will hinder Ireland's preparation for the next WC but NO he wants to beat the AB's and play for the lions so me me me). Most of his tries are scored on the wing where he hides from the action or a meter out after the forwards do all the hard yards. He won a grand slam as skipper after WC year where no other nation gave a hoot but rather start rebuilding for the next WC. Leinster only became a force after his inspiring leadership was no longer. Sorry pal but Carter would've done a lot more with Irelands golden generation than your man
Posted 22:32 15th November 2012
Spartacus says...
Just watched the France v. Australia game from the weekend. Michalak had by far the best No. 10 performance at the weekend. Why are we talking about Carter at all?
It should all be about Michalak and Fofana rather than Carter and Thompson.
Posted 21:50 15th November 2012
ben7 says...
Messi is waaaaaay ahead of carter. But carter is still amazing and not overated. The same cant be said for "King" Richie haha.
Posted 21:26 15th November 2012
nzmaoriboy says...
Look at the numbers people (@ spartacus) they tell a story about Carters pedigree! International rugby has had some great Fly halfs..whom played very differing but succesful styles of rugby. Barry Johns silky hands,Wilkinsons accurate kicking & dilligence,Larkhams abillity to slip tackles & loop passes..& butch James..err...ahh...hmmm?? he he. Truth is many flyhalfs game is taylored to the team they play for Townsend,Steyn,Porta,fox,Lynagh etc etc. Carter is the most complete flyhalf around (barry johns words),he can pretty much match all of these excellent flyhalves best traits..
Barry John-6 tries-120 points-10 losses-60% win
Stephen Larkham-25 tries-135 points-31 losses-68% win
Butch James-3 tries-55 points-18 loss-56% win
John Wilkinson-7tries-1246 points-28 loss-70% win
Daniel Carter-29 tries-1381 points-10 loss-89% win
Dudes superior in all catargories (barr losses)! so he must be ok @spartacus
6x national titles-4x super titles-1x top 14 title-7x Tri nations-3 Grandslams-lions white wash-1x worldcup-
Posted 19:54 15th November 2012
Phill_Moore says...
Hmmm... well, maybe if we breakdown both codes in 4 categories: Attack, Defence, Distribution, Organization, and compare how each do in their own code.
Attack. Both absolutely outstanding, setting records on a monthly basis. Carter however, already has the career records for SXV and country, Messi may still get there though. Would call it a draw.
Defence. Carter is as solid as a midfielder, in fact plays 2nd 5 from time to time.
Messi is ok, but doesn't bother with defence so much. Carter has the edge
Distribution. Both outstanding, creating lots of scoring for others
Would call it a draw.
Organization. Carter is the organizer of the Crusaders and ABs, while it's rather Xavi that does it for Barcelona, with Iniesta and Messi contributing sometimes. Messi organizes more for Argy, but not so much as Carter for the ABs
Carter has the edge.
So from this point of view, Carter seems like the most complete player.
Do yourselves a favour and watch the second test of the lions tour, not just the highlights... The Lions score in the 2nd minute, and then Carter decides to single handedly torture them for the rest of the game. Practically mistake free, 33 points.
Posted 15:49 15th November 2012