Rugby: Spice boys' antics make us all thankful for first-class Carter

Dan Carter. Photo / Getty Images

It's not as if the nation needs any help in cherishing Dan Carter but, inadvertently, plenty has been supplied by the antics of the spice boy wannabes, Gavin Henson and Danny Cipriani.

Could there be two less worthy pretenders; two men less likely to storm the rugby world? Yet while these two continue to offer so little they attract so much attention, money, fame and celebrity.

Henson remains hopeful he can feature for Wales at the World Cup. Strangely, the Welsh seem just as keen. Cipriani, while not wanted by England is in demand elsewhere.

The Rebels have an option on him for 2012, while Toulon have confirmed they would be interested in taking him on a short-term deal during the World Cup.

If ever there was reason for New Zealanders to feel smug, it has been supplied by Carter and his endless class, professionalism and dignity. Inevitably, debate has blossomed in the wake of revelations he has been offered a four-year contract extension with enormous flexibility and a near $1 million pay packet.

The buffoonery of Henson highlights why Carter is worth every cent. Imagine if New Zealand were grovelling to someone whose only achievements in world rugby were to kick a long-range goal and make one tackle on a badly unprepared 18-year-old. That's Henson's rugby CV.

His achievements off it are more extensive. He's been a success on two reality TV shows, written an ill-judged autobiography, been arrested for an unsavoury incident on a train and in the last week almost had his contract at Toulon terminated after a scrap in a nightclub with team-mate Matt Henjak.

None of this has seemingly deterred the Welsh Rugby Union. In the wake of Henson's latest escapade, they released a statement: "Following recent reported incidents, WRU Group chief executive Roger Lewis and Wales head coach Warren Gatland have requested meetings with Gavin Henson and Andy Powell over the course of the coming weeks. Until those meetings take place there will be no further comment from the WRU."

It was a statement that suggested Henson remains of considerable interest. In an interview with the BBC's Jonathan Ross last year, Henson revealed his pre-match routine.

"It takes two hours to get ready. Hot bath, shave my legs and face, moisturise, put fake tan on and do my hair - which takes a bit of time. I need my fellow players to say I'm looking good, I need it for my confidence. It gives you a boost."

It's an admission that surely makes every Kiwi even more thankful for Carter. He's not immune to the modern trimmings - he's dallied publicly in his underwear but somehow that seems okay.

As Carter explained in 2009 when he was asked what he thought the old-school brigade would make of his love of fashion: "They probably think I'm some young punk. But the important thing is that when I'm on the rugby paddock, that's all I'm focused on."

His brilliance since 2003 is a tribute to his focus. He's won 79 caps, scored almost 1200 points and been named IRB Player of the Year.

In that same period, Cipriani has failed to make a single tackle, slept with a lady who used to be a man, nicked a bottle of booze from a Melbourne nightclub and was suspended for last night's game against the Reds for a breach of the Rebels' team protocol.

Like Henson, though, Cipriani somehow retains a following. There are those who believe his talent can conquer all; that he should be leading England's World Cup bid. He has a cultured left boot and has pace. But he has not shown any capacity to turn his component parts into an intriguing useful sum.

Under pressure, he kicks the ball into touch and the Rebels would be better off using a wet blanket on defence. Or a cardboard cut-out, or a cheesecake - all of which would offer more resistance.

His greatest achievement is to remind New Zealanders how lucky they are to have Carter.