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| Dan Carter © Gallo Images |
French players are full of respect for Dan Carter not only for his supreme talent on the pitch but for the example his showed off it after his Perpignan adventure was cut short by injury.
Nobody in Perpignan has forgotten that even though he played only five games before a snapped Achilles ended his French sabbatical last January, he stayed true to the club until the end of his contract.
Carter, who was at the Stade de France when Perpignan won their first title in 54 years in June and celebrated it like a true Catalan, told rugby weekly Midi Olympique: "It was impossible for me to go back home just like that.
"Even on crutches, I tried to help the club. I analysed our opponents' game on videos. I gave advice to our goalkickers. It wasn't much but it was a way to thank them for the way they made me feel at home."
Carter also impressed his Perpignan team mates by the way he recovered from an injury which could have ended his career.
"Frankly, I was amazed. To come back so quickly at his best level after such an injury shows that he is also a hard worker," Centre David Marty told reporters ahead of Saturday's game against the All Blacks in Marseille.
So much for the man, it's Carter the player that the French respect above all.
'FLAWLESS'
When asked if he had given his French teammates any tips on Carter's flaws, Marty said: "I can't see any. He is flawless. He is a complete player, a match-winner and his strongest point is maybe his ability to dissect the game of his opponents in front of a video and on the pitch."
Flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc said that being Carter's direct opponent will be one of the highest points of his young career.
"I never had the opportunity to face him. He is the best number 10 in the world and to face him is a dream come true," he said.
Trinh-Duc and other French players also said they regarded Carter, who has a record of six wins in seven games against France, is key to the All Blacks.
"When Carter is missing they are a different team," said Damien Traille.
Carter was replaced in the 56th minute of the 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff when France stunned the All Blacks 20-18 after being down 13-3 at halftime, while he missed France's 27-22 win in Dunedin in June because of his injury.
"Carter will be there on Saturday," said lock Romain Millo-Chluski. "It will be an absolutely different game."
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