The rhetoric was classic All Blacks stuff, about obsessively focusing on process and taking each moment as it comes. But Dan Carter’s ecstatic reaction at the end of New Zealand’s victory over South Africa at the prospect of his first World Cup final told a different story.
Having missed out in 2003 and 2007, before also missing the cathartic 2011 victory with injury, the talismanic fly-half spoke of his excitement and “huge relief” at the chance to make up for it at Twickenham on Saturday. In the process, he aims to help the All Blacks become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups.
“You could probably see the emotion after the game. It’s my fourth World Cup and I’ve never been involved in a World Cup final before so I’m pretty excited about that and can’t wait to get into training this week and prepare as well as we possibly can,” Carter said.
“It’s why we’re here: to win back-to-back World Cups. We’ve given ourselves that chance by reaching the final but it’s not done yet. There is still a huge task in front of us.”
The 33-year-old played an integral role in the All Blacks narrow semi-final victory, not least with his smartly taken drop goal shortly after half-time – only his eighth in 112 appearances – and the conversion of Beauden Barrett’s try a few minutes later from the left-hand touchline.
“That’s probably been the biggest challenge for me in the last two or three weeks – not thinking about the result or the outcome. You can fall into that trap and I potentially fell into that trap in Cardiff against Georgia,” he said, referring to his rusty goal-kicking in that pool match, when he missed three of his first four.
“Just that mindset of nailing each task and staying in the moment has really helped myself and this team. That’s going to have to continue for another week. It’s quite easy to start thinking about the result and what could happen.”
With the All Blacks trailing 12-7 at half-time Carter attacked the second half, in driving rain, like a man possessed, becoming his country’s record points scorer in the process. He said his determination to take matters into his own hands was typical of the spirit that runs through the side.
“You’re never waiting for someone else to spark things up. That’s the beauty of this side. No one in that second half was waiting back. They all wanted to make a statement and help the team,” he said.
“The last thing I wanted to do was sit back and wait for something to happen. If I had an opportunity to try and influence the game and the team, I’d try and do that.
“There were a couple of key moments in the second half and in these important games it comes down to only one or two moments and we took those in the second half.”
With Carter having fought back from two injury-plagued years to direct traffic for the All Blacks and now set to finish his international career in Hollywood fashion – and in the manner of his captain, Richie McCaw – the assistant coach Ian Foster paid a wholehearted tribute. “For someone who’s gone through what he has to control the team in the way he does, it’s outstanding,” he said. “He’s reaping the rewards of really hard work. To see him out there running around freely, it’s outstanding.”
Carter said the knack his side have for ensuring they do not suffer when going down to 14 men – as when the try scorer Jerome Kaino was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes that straddled half-time – underlined their will to win and to wear down the opposition even when at a numerical disadvantage.
“There’s something about this team – when we’re put under pressure or down to 14 men, we really lift as a team. It’s just wanting to work hard for your mate next to you.
“I was really pleased with the way we played with 14 men and also right at the end there I was also pleased with the way we controlled the game.”
His momentum-changing drop goal was instinctive, a decision made about 20 seconds before he snapped over the kick. But like so much else that the All Blacks do, it is instinct based on muscle-memory borne of endless practice.
“That was probably more of a psychological blow than anything. When you’re down to 14 men – and for the Boks to concede points at that stage can be tough. So it was pleasing, that aspect of the game, and it something we work a bit on.”
