"The perfect rugby player" - Dan Carter ranks his three 'greatest' fly-halves

Tuesday, 18 May 2021 at 10:28

byRugby Rucker

Not including himself, legendary All Black Dan Carter has ran discussed some of the greatest players to pull on the number 10 shirt in recent times.

#3. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

The main man behind Ireland's international success in recent seasons and Leinster's stranglehold on the European Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 double in 2018.

Carter said: "I look at the way Johnny plays, he’s always creating or demanding from the people around him. You can see him leading, and he tells what he wants from the players around him."

"I think there are a lot of similarities between me and Sexton to be honest. We love to control the game, so some of our specialities or parts of the game that are similar, is that game management. We see space.

DID YOU KNOW? Sexton was the winner of World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018, having previously been a nominee for the award in 2014

#2. Michael Lynagh (Australia)

For a decade from his debut in 1984 to his international retirement in 1995, Michael Lynagh was one of the most recognisable players, an inspirational playmaker whose finest moments came at fly-half. By the time he played the last of his 72 internationals he had set a new point-scoring record and been a key member of the side which won the 1991 World Cup in England.

Carter: “When he retired, that total was also a World record points tally. Despite him being an Aussie..I took a lot of inspiration from him.

DID YOU KNOW? Courier-Mail rugby writer Jim Tucker and Daily Telegraph rugby writer Peter Jenkins. Michael Lynagh was ranked among the top 10 greatest Australian rugby union players of all-time

#1. Jonny Wilkinson (England)

In fact, only Dan Carter has scored more in Test rugby, with Wilkinson having garnered 1,246 during his 97 caps for England and the Lions. His finest hour, of course, came in 2003, when he slotted the drop goal that won the World Cup.

Carter said: "You might of heard of him? Former England captain and Toulon player Jonny is probably the closest thing I've seen to the perfect rugby player.

"[Wilkinson was] someone I really looked up to and I tried to have a similar work ethic. The 2005 Lions tour was a bit of a fanboy moment for me."

DID YOU KNOW? He toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, in 2001 to Australia and 2005 to New Zealand, winning 6 caps