Herald Classics - 2005 - Funny how the ball bounces Carter's way

Dan Carter scores his first try during the second test in Wellington on Saturday night. Picture / Mark Mitchell

It's the university running track in Christchurch and a small boy is earnestly preparing for a primary school athletics event.

Across the track he spies a lone figure doing sprints and stretches. It's a sunny day last January, the middle of summer so it's a couple of minutes before recognition dawns for the 10-year-old as he gets closer.

There's a conversation, and not the 20-second brushoff. A good five minutes before they go their separate ways.

"Good luck with your running, buddy," are Daniel Carter's final words. Instant hero status. And that's the point about Carter. He seems to do it all effortlessly. Doing the right thing on and off the park.

You get the feeling he's happiest as an anonymous figure, not - as captain Tana Umaga suggested after Carter's stunningly mature display for the All Blacks on Saturday night - the leader round the park.

Carter's 33-point contribution was immense. Reach into the jar of superlatives and you'd grab a handful which would be perfectly apt. He would have been totally justified on Saturday night had he been swinging from the chandeliers shouting "Jonny Who?"

But that's not his way. There was a reserved "it's one of the most memorable games I've had in the black jersey" and "it's just one of those games you remember for a long time".

Then, as if remembering his place in the overall scheme of things, "a lot of credit has to go to the guys who were working off the ball to create space".

Carter's first try, three minutes into the second half, effectively killed the Lions' challenge.

A surging attack before Carter received the ball wide on the right. A clever grubber kick into a channel no more than half a metre wide and he got to the ball just inside the deadball line.

It was a sublime piece of footballing skill. Carter's version? "I just put the kick through and scored it."

The second, 12 minutes from the end, brought some flak - from his teammates. He glided through a gap, had a two-man overlap but running a straight rather than angled line got there comfortably.

"It was probably a bit greedy. Some of the guys were giving me some stick about not passing. I just put my head down and went for it."

He kicked five penalties and four conversions, nine out of 10, and when he left the field with the bruised shoulder which has ruled him out of Saturday's third test it was to a standing ovation. Carter sensed the game was in hand in the third quarter. The Lions were in the hunt until his first try, they didn't give up and were a far more competitive outfit than the first-test flops.

"We've been known in the past to put on a good performance but not do so well the next week, so it was a big stepping stone for us to finish it tonight," he said.

As for his own game, he was happy with everything from his consistency on defence to setting up his outside runners. "And I was also happy with my kicking, which was pleasing."

So he should be, but the thing about Carter is that modest streak which prevents him verbally letting rip. It's just not him, and it's why he's tailormade for the modest hero stuff.

Carter was asked how he felt at being described as the world's pre-eminent No 10. He's too smart to buy that one, even if on Saturday night's showing at this moment he's it.

"It's not really something I think about, to be honest. I'm just happy I went out, played the game I love and we cleaned up the series. I'm not really looking for accolades as well."

That's accolades for you. People might not go in search of them but they have a way of finding their targets.

"The bounce of the ball just went my way," Carter said. And there's another thing; isn't it funny how the ball keeps bouncing his way.

What they said about Carter

Graham Henry (All Black coach):
I thought he was very special. He had an exceptional game, he broke the line, scored tries, his defence was superb and he navigated the ship, for a 23-year-old, quite outstandingly.

Tana Umaga (All Black captain):
To play alongside an exceptional talent like DC and witness what he was up to [was great]. His kicking, his nous, he runs the show, he's our leader. He loves it, has the right attitude, and who knows what can happen from here.

Sir Clive Woodward (Lions coach):
He's a special player. He had a wonderful game. The [second] try he scored summed it up, just how straight he ran, which few players can do, holding the space, defending it is very difficult. New Zealand is very lucky to have him.

Eddie O'Sullivan (Lions assistant coach):
He got really good service from his pack, but his decision-making and control was excellent. It was probably the complete performance. He's grown into the role and is probably the best No 10 in the world. He's like a well-oiled machine.