Dan Carter believes Ruben Love is currently the man in possession of the All Blacks' famous No.10 jersey, but insists New Zealand's long-term fly-half battle is far from settled ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup.
Speaking on the
DSPN Podcast
with Martin Devlin, the All Blacks legend said New Zealand are blessed with depth at fly-half, with Love, Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett all competing for the role, while Richie Mo'unga's expected return will only strengthen the competition.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone. Love has worn the No.10 shirt during the current international window, but Carter believes the next 12 months will determine who truly makes the position their own.
"We're really lucky, we've got some great depth. I guess the challenge is, who's going to put their hand up and really take that role over the next couple of years? That's something that probably hasn't happened.
"It's kind of been shared a little bit once Richie Mo'unga departed. He took a bit of ownership in the back end of his time in New Zealand and then it's been between Damian and Beauden."
Carter stressed that not having a clear-cut first-choice fly-half at this stage isn't necessarily a concern.
"Now we've got a bit of young talent coming through. It's exciting, so we have depth there, which is good. It's just which one of those three or four players is going to really put their hand up and go, 'This is my position.'
"Obviously you've got Richie coming back into the mix as well, so that strengthens the depth. I don't think we can answer that question of who's going to be playing at the World Cup just yet because there's still a lot of Test matches and a lot of footy to be played before then.
"I think it's an amazing opportunity for one of them to go, 'Right, that number 10 jersey's mine.'"
Carter recalls his own rise
Carter also compared the current situation to the beginning of his own All Blacks career, revealing he spent time learning behind Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens before being handed his opportunity.
"I was lucky. I had a season and a half playing at 12 alongside Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens, learning from two absolute masters of the No.10 jersey.
"Then on the end-of-year tour they left those two behind and threw me into the mix with a very young squad. I had to learn as I went, and one of the biggest things for me was just being thrown in the deep end. Either you sink or you swim.
"When a player has shown what they're capable of and has been in the environment, there comes a time where you've just got to show belief and faith in that person, continue to back them and hopefully you've made the right decision."
POLL:
All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final
he All Blacks have been handed a potentially brutal route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after being drawn alongside hosts Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest pools.
With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.
Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown
New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.
For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.
Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits
If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.
Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:
- Samoa, USA or Japan (Pool E)
- Wales or Tonga (Pool F)
- One of the emerging contenders from Pool C
On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.
Quarter-Final: Potential Clash with South Africa
The bracket reveals the first major obstacle on New Zealand's path.
Should the All Blacks win Pool A and progress through the Round of 16, they are likely to face the winner of Pool B in the quarter-finals. Defending champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to top that group, which also contains Italy, Georgia and Romania.
That means the Rugby Championship rivals could be set for another World Cup knockout classic, with the Springboks standing between New Zealand and the final four.
Given South Africa's recent dominance and World Cup pedigree, many observers view this as one of the most anticipated potential quarter-finals of the tournament.
Semi-Final: France Looms Large
If New Zealand overcome South Africa, the likely semi-final opponent would emerge from the opposite side of the bracket containing Pool E.
France are strong favourites to win Pool E, which also includes Japan, Samoa and the United States.
Les Bleus are expected to navigate their side of the draw and could set up a blockbuster semi-final against the All Blacks. A meeting between two of world rugby's most talented squads would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the tournament.
Potential Final Opponents
Should New Zealand reach the final, several heavyweight nations could await.
The opposite half of the draw is expected to be led by:
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Argentina
- England
England's route appears favourable if they top Pool F, while Ireland and Scotland will again meet in the pool stage before potentially making deep runs into the knockout rounds.
Argentina, meanwhile, remain one of the dark horses after their impressive performances in recent World Cups.
Predicted Route to the Final
Assuming the major nations win their pools, the All Blacks' most likely pathway would be:
Pool Stage
- Australia
- Other Pool A opponents
Round of 16
- Best third-placed qualifier (from Pools C, E or F)
Quarter-Final
- South Africa (Pool B winner)
Semi-Final
Final
- Ireland, England, Scotland or Argentina
Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players
From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!
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