Rugby superstar who has it all and wants more

Dan Carter poses for a portrait at the Castleknock Hotel. Photo / Getty Images

For the man who has it all, the search for perfection goes on.

Vision, commitment, intelligence, pragmatism, pace and pride in the jersey - Dan Carter is probably the leading practitioner of the game in world rugby union today.

Already at 28 a player certain to be remembered as one of the sport's finest, Carter exudes a calm, controlled persona. Yet it hides an interior where the fires of ambition still burn fiercely.

Even as he approaches 80 test caps, the superb All Black seeks more from himself and the team.

"I still believe I have a lot of my best rugby ahead of me," he says without a hint of arrogance or self aggrandisement.

When is he at his happiest and would it involve rugby? There is not a moment's hesitation.

"Yes, definitely it would involve the game. Perhaps I am happiest when I am fit and working extremely hard. I love it when you put in the hard work and your body feels really good and you are fresh.

"This is a dream job that I am involved in playing for the All Blacks, a dream come true."

This relentless drive for improvement, a never-ending search for a rugby Valhalla in terms of individual and collective performances, gnaws away at the psyche of Carter and his colleagues.

It was ever thus with those who wore this famed jersey.

So I ask him by what sort of percentage the New Zealanders believe they can improve?

The answer will bring a sobering chill to the minds of all the New Zealanders' prospective opponents.

"We were pretty happy with the way we started off in the Tri-Nations this year. But we thought we then tapered off a little and some of the later games were a lot closer. So we realise we need to improve.

"Graham Henry has said, we are only around 75 per cent of where we would like to be. There are still a few areas where we need to improve which is fantastic."

While he admits too much can be read into end of season tours, he points to New Zealand's recent outstanding record in the northern hemisphere. Plainly, there is a dichotomy here.

Ireland, he says, looked tired when they went to New Plymouth to play the All Blacks last June.

"You could almost sense they were coming to the end of a long season. They will have been very disappointed with that game."

Yet when he discusses the All Blacks in the northern hemisphere after their players' long season, it is as though the same rules do not exist.

"We don't want to start thinking about summer and a break as yet. The last thing you want is to have a break after losing a game or two on an end-of-season tour. So we put everything into these matches.

"We can use them as development as well because it is an extended squad to what we would have for the Tri-Nations matches and the home tests. That is good for the development of the side."

This goes to the heart of the reasons New Zealand have so often been superior to the northern hemisphere countries. Ireland and Scotland have never beaten them, Wales haven't done so since 1953 and England have won only two of their last 17 games against them.

To put it bluntly, it matters so much more to New Zealand than any of these other nations.

If you doubt this, consider Dan Carter's reflective thoughts on how he would like to be remembered when he retires from test rugby.

He goes well beyond the desire to have simply played for his country, perhaps scored a few good tries and helped win some matches. That is merely the starting point.

"I have always said it is fantastic playing for the All Blacks, a dream, and you have to be happy with that.

"But I want to be remembered as a great All Black. I don't use that term lightly because I don't like using that terminology.

"But to be remembered as a great All Black is not easy. You have to be around a long time and achieve a lot of things.

"At the end of my career, hopefully after a few more seasons in the jersey, I hope people will remember me as someone who was there for a long time and gave everything that he possibly could and hopefully added to the All Black legacy."

Before that happens, injuries permitting, Carter will play at least one and perhaps two more World Cups.

But he, like his coach, is very clear that the All Blacks will not be sacrificing the open, attacking style of rugby with which they have flourished this year for a safety first, largely kicking based approach either on this end-of-season northern hemisphere tour or at the World Cup next year.

Yet he acknowledges it can be tougher to produce that open game in the northern hemisphere and under the searing pressures of a World Cup.

"It is harder especially in the northern hemisphere. Some sides can almost stop you from playing that style of rugby and make it difficult.

"And in previous World Cups it has not always been the attacking sides that have won the tournaments. But we are confident about the way the new law interpretations have really opened up the game.

"We are enjoying playing this style of game and we won't change anything in that respect in the next 12 months."

Carter and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw are inevitably seen as standout performers for the team. Should New Zealanders not be worried by so heavy a dependence on two players?

Carter doesn't think so because he sees other potential leaders emerging in the side.

"We are working hard to build a strong core group of players. And already there is good leadership in the side apart from Richie and me. There is a lot of confidence that we have the players and strength in depth."

We talked during the Tri-Nations about places he had discovered in France and Europe during his sojourn at Perpignan in 2008/9.

What was the appeal of such places to him?

"I am a firm believer in having a balance in your life. So when I am not involved in rugby, I prefer to be right away from it.

"It helps to get out of New Zealand every now and then, and get away from all the attention and people talking about rugby. On this tour too, that has been possible in some places like London.

"It is part of the reason I went to France to play and travel in Europe. It is pretty important mentally to get away from it all when you can.

"When I am involved with rugby I give 100 per cent but if I get a week or so off, I enjoy getting away from it and having that balance."