First five-eighths is ready for inevitable comparisons with Carter in his first run against the Crusaders
Brett in Blue. The first five-eighths is getting used to the idea, but knows his appearance will provoke plenty of "advice" from the Crusaders' faithful tomorrow in Christchurch.
The 24-year-old has shuttled between his Auckland office and Christchurch base many times since he was chosen to run the Blues backline this season. He's got used to his mates giving him some gyp about his allegiance, but anticipates that line of inquiry will climb when the Blues venture south for tomorrow's fourth round Super 14 clash.
Stephen Brett is unconcerned about the fans' reaction, his focus is all about having his game in order for the inevitable comparisons with Daniel Carter.
He's been with the Blues long enough, he has has time to bed into their strategies and feel settled with their routines before tangling with his old teammates.
"I guess it is just a matter of not worrying about things outside my own game and that is what I have been trying to do," he said.
Brett said he had not been on edge as the game approached.
"Not really. I have been doing a lot of homework on them. I do know a lot about them, but obviously they might throw a few tricks in there thinking I might know what they are up to. There might be a bit of double bluff going on so it will be an interesting game."
Brett jests that the duel is media-fuelled before he applauds the talk as part of the growing rugby hype.
The only time Brett recalls mixing it against Carter came for about 10 minutes this year in a pre-season match. When he was at the Crusaders he was usually competing for game time with Colin Slade or some other five-eighths.
"It will be an interesting battle, the master against the apprentice I suppose," said Brett, trying to downplay his chances.
"Dan does play superbly. The thing I admire the most is the way he controls a game. He has always got things ticking over in the back of his mind about how to deal with all sorts of situations. When things need to be done he knows what to do to make them right and that was one of the main things I learned from him.
"He is a good man as well, he gets on well with everyone and he is a hell of a rugby player."
Brett said Carter was always calm on the pitch.
"He is a gentle controller really and that is probably his greatest attribute, even when things get tough."
Brett is expecting some grief. He reasoned they would not be real Crusaders' fans unless they gave him some vocal advice.
"I'd expect them to be giving me a bit of grief when I am taking shots at goal and that sort of thing. I am ready for that, maybe it will be a sign of how much the crowd loves me."
When he wore red and black, Brett said they always felt confident they could win against the Blues. It was the same though against every rival, it was part of the mental makeup which made the Crusaders such an awkward opponent.
He sees no magic formula other than hard work and total concentration for sides if they wanted to beat the Crusaders. They were extremely well-structured and disciplined and that could leave them vulnerable to some offbeat or off the cuff attacks. "But it will really come down to patience, if holes come they come but if not we have to keep battling it out until they do," Brett said.
The Blues had shown some of that strength against the Highlanders and Reds and a further success, away, before next week's bye would be huge.
"That would be great. It would just set up our campaign to beat a side like the Crusaders."
