Wednesday, January 09, 2008

The Golden team !!!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4347580a10295.html

Carter natural as Crusaders VC
The Press
Tuesday, 08 January 2008

All Blacks star Dan Carter's elevation to the Crusaders' vice-captaincy is a "natural progression", head coach Robbie Deans says.
Carter, 25, was confirmed yesterday as skipper Richie McCaw's deputy when the Crusaders resumed pre-season training.
Deans said Carter was "a logical replacement" for former All Black Aaron Mauger, the Crusaders' long-term vice-captain now playing for English club Leicester.
Carter said the new role was "a real honour" but becoming DC the VC would not alter his on-field approach.
"In the last couple of years I've taken a bit more of a leadership role in helping run the team. It's good being named vice-captain, but nothing's going to change from my end. I'll just continue to work hard on my game and do what's best for the team. Although we've lost a lot of players we've still got a lot experience there."
Carter - who last captained a team "in the young age grade stuff" - said the decision-making was a collective responsibility in the modern game.
He was confident the continued presence of players like Greg Somerville, Reuben Thorne, Corey Flynn and Caleb Ralph would assist him and McCaw as team leaders.
The Southbridge pivot said he was accustomed to calling the shots from first five-eighths so helming the backline was just a natural extension of his regular role.
He is taking over long-time cohort Mauger's vice-captaincy duties but is not sure if he will occupy the departed ex-All Blacks' midfield role.
The Crusaders can call on Carter, Stephen Brett, Tim Bateman and Hamish Gard who all have experience in the No. 12 jersey. But Carter - who has donned it in the test arena - said he was "looking to play as much in the 10 jersey as I can. It's where I've played the last few years. It's been 3½ years since I've played at 12."
Carter said Brett had had a good year for the Crusaders and Canterbury and would be "pushing for a spot" in the Super 14 starting team, "as will a lot of players".
He said Mauger had been "a real general" in the red-and-black backline and would be a huge loss.

"We've got a couple of young talented players ... and I guess if I can help them the way Aaron helped me when I first started that will help their game and help their confidence. I'll be looking to make them as comfortable as I can so they can go out, take their opportunity and play their natural game."
Carter said he had "a good break" to get over the World Cup disappointment and had taken the time to "reassess goals and where you want your career to head. In my break, all I wanted to do was come back and play for the Crusaders and put in the hard yards to get in the right shape for another big campaign."
Deans said Carter was a perfect fit for the vice-captaincy because he was experienced and was "well-respected within the group".
The Crusaders' Super 14 squad is injury-free, but wider training group member Alfred Pelenise, the Tasman and New Zealand sevens wing, is rehabilitating after knee surgery.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4345753a10295.html : article about Corey Flynn's new business (on & off the field!)
***
Links for this article & other links on stuff.co.nz sent by Izzy
Stache pic with Dougie sent by Izzy & laid-back pic sent by Nikki (via Chill)
The RGs are always there!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was a commet I had post on a aticle dated 3rd of january about DV vice-captaincy. he seems agree with me lol!
Where the pic with Dougie was taken?

"Sorry girls, I can't no longer post on the chatterbox. I have no clue why.
Thanks for welcome me on board. That's good news for DC coz behind a shy-like and boyish-like look, he's pretty ambitious and really serious player. He might fufill well in leadership, esp after the RWC, coz he really really got it hard and probably want to built the 2011 win from NOW"

MaryL said...

Doug's pic was taken at a charity for ali williams (before doug's wedding)
was the so-called Mo-vember stache...

i can forward the pic to whoever asks for it ;)

Anonymous said...

Ok, thanks Maryl, that was mid-december-ish?
antoher question : what is n°12 job on the game? I'll do research but you knw I'm just a girl...ah

Anonymous said...

He looks like a kid facing a batch of Xmas presents on the pic at the Omarama gliding grand Prix! So sweet lol!! Gosh, he must really really adore gliding.

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