Daniel Carter to announce playing future

Dan Carter is expected to announce his playing future at a press conference in Christchurch today. LATEST: He’s staying

‘We are at war’ in NZ conference: Joseph

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says the difference between the New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby conferences is like “war and school stuff”.

Blues work on Stormers maul busting

It’s not like the Blues don’t know it’s coming. It’s just how effective they are in dealing with the Stormers potent rolling maul that’s the tricky part.

LATEST: He’s staying put after all.

Rugby superstar Dan Carter will continue plying his trade in New Zealand for a further four years.

The world class playmaker announced at a press conference in Christchurch that he has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2015.

At the press conference, Carter said: “It is a special moment one I have been chewing over for the last six months.

“There were a few different reasons for signing but the underlying factor was the black jersey. If I went overseas I would not be able to wear the black jersey and that was a big reason for staying. It is not a given but it is a wee challenge for me.”

Carter has negotiated another special sabbatical clause. He was granted leave for a six-month “sabbatical” to play for Perpignan in 2009 and professed at the time a desire to return to France.

Carter said he had no plans as yet to return to France.

“There is flexibility in the contract with the sabbatical and I am thankful to the rugby union for being flexible because four years is a long time and things can change. I have not thought too much about that though. There is a playing and non playing sabbatical element to the contract and I have not thought about that to be honest. It’s more about having the flexibilty in case I want to take up that option.”

The details of his contract are confidential. But sources have confirmed the deal will make Carter the highest paid player in New Zealand alongside his All Blacks team-mate Richie McCaw, who is set to follow Carter’s lead and re-sign with the NZRU in the coming days.

New Zealand teams have got it tougher

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph says:-

The Highlanders have played seven of their eight derbies and just completed a rugged month with consecutive matches against the Crusaders, Blues, Chiefs and Hurricanes.

The well-placed southerners now have a timely bye to recharge their batteries for the home straight.

“We played four New Zealand teams in a row – that’s a big ask because they are very physical. You watch the Waratahs play the Reds and it’s different rugby … it’s like school stuff while we are at war,” Joseph said.

Joseph’s claims were certainly backed up by two matches last Friday. His Highlanders edged the Hurricanes 13-6 in an intense confrontation in Invercargill where the collision areas were brutal. Next up, the Reds hosted the Blues with the Queenslanders consistently reluctant to commit numbers to the breakdowns.

Joseph is a fan of the conference system and believes the derbies have achieved their aim of adding interest, with crowd numbers reflecting that.

“I think it’s great, mate. It’s quite tribal, the Kiwi boys against the Kiwis … certainly the guys are enjoying the derby matches,” he said, adding that the New Zealand coaches mightn’t always feel that way with the high attrition rate of injuries.

Of the 13 New Zealand derbies, nine have been decided by 10 points or less.

The all-Kiwi flavour will dominate the final five rounds of regular season action. The Blues, Crusaders and Chiefs each have three New Zealand derbies to play, the Hurricanes two and the Highlanders one.

There’s a concern they could cannibalise the New Zealand cause and that is one of the drawbacks of a draw that doesn’t see the 15 teams all playing each other. The Crusaders, for example, have to battle through a campaign that doesn’t have them playing the comparatively easy Melbourne Rebels or Lions.

Joseph said he hoped next season the Highlanders could avoid the brutality of playing four New Zealand teams in a row.

“If we don’t have to do that again next year I think we will be better off,” Joseph said, believing his side had struggled to get over a tight loss to the Blues and a deflating defeat to the Chiefs. But he was proud of the way they had bookended those two losses with wins over the Crusaders and Hurricanes.

Kiwi Super Rugby conference leaders the Blues say the big forward drive is getting plenty of attention.

The Stormers had the Chiefs in a world of hurt at halftime last Saturday night in Hamilton, leading 20-3 and making inroads via the rolling maul. Eventually they were hauled in 30-23 by the fast-finishing Kiwis.

But not before reminding everyone of the sort of damage they can wreak when that big pack tucks the ball in tight and they get the collective rumble going.

Given that the Stormers should have their legs under them this week, and they will be reeling after back-to-back defeats against Kiwi opposition, the Blues are anticipating getting some questions asked via attacking lineouts.

“It’s not hard if you get in there early, get some momentum and just fly in,” said Blues lock Anthony Boric who revealed they had already launched plans to combat the big drive. “The Chiefs kind of held back a little bit and as soon as the Stormers got that initial momentum they were really hard to stop.

“Maybe stealing the ball first and not letting them get it would be a good idea, but after that it’s about shutting it down straight away.”

Coach Pat Lam felt the crux of the challenge lay in the forwards.

“They’re one of the best at that rolling maul, and we’re also going to have to do a bit of work on our breakdown and our attack because they are the best defensive team in the competition. They’ll be hurting after the last couple of games, and we know we’re going to get a fired up Stormers team,” he said