Dan Carter
Dan Carter is still aiming to be a factor in the 2015 World Cup after an injury plagued couple of months that have seen him stuttering with form.
Cater now faces a nine-month race to regain the fine form he is capable of for the World Cup after an uncharacteristically below-par year-end tour.
The All Black flyhalf has decided sitting back on his laurels is no longer an option and that regular and consistent game-time will bring him back to his best.
“Throughout the tour my injury had healed. The body felt good but the game-time was lacking,” Carter admitted.
“That tour wasn’t the best situation to get regular game-time but it got me back in the environment, back into the team and a better understanding of the game we’re trying to play.
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“In the long run hopefully it will work in my favour.”
A large section of All Blacks will be carefully managed through next year’s Super Rugby campaign – those with a heavy workload will sit out at least the first round.
If Carter has his way, time on the sideline will be limited.
The 32-year-old plans to rejoin the Crusaders in early January and is itching to be involved as much as possible from the opening round.
“I can’t see why I wouldn’t be available for Round One. I don’t need to be rested after my lack of games this year,” he said.
“It’s pretty clear I just need to get back and play some rugby. Unfortunately there’s not any around this time of year. I’m looking forward to getting some consecutive games at Super Rugby and some consistency.
“When it’s stop start it’s hard to get in a rhythm. That’s what happened this year. I’ve got to bank the experience of games I have played and I’m sure it’ll come back once I start getting some game-time.
“The body is really good, better than it was when I flew out of New Zealand to go on tour which is encouraging.
“It’s probably the first time in about five years where I’ve had a December where I’m not having to do rehab.
“I can actually train hard and get some gains throughout the off-season.”
Carter will be aiming to make 2015 his fourth World Cup, and although he has a winners medal from 2011 – he has not had it all his way.
He injured his groin in training during the 2011 edition and sat out for most of it, he speaks about the strange feeling of standing to the side of the podium as the All Blacks lifted the trophy on home soil.
“It was a tough one, mixed emotions.
“I was extremely proud of the team achievement, I still felt part of it but it was not how it was supposed to work out.”