Carter confirmed he’s several weeks away from being in anything approaching match shape and won’t be rushing anything. Even running around out there today brought a little bit of that back.” Carter spent much of his first Blues training locked in conversation with his former All Blacks team-mate Barrett. “I feel great until I start getting into some contact work.

Carter, after his first training session with the Blues on a rainswept Alexandra Park, confirmed he is motivated to put his best foot forward for an unexpected last run around in New Zealand rugby, that he is “several weeks” away from being even close to match ready — should his services even be required — and that indeed it felt a little weird to finally be wearing the colours and logo of the northern franchise that chased him pretty hard when he was in the peak of his career. It will be a different story in a couple of weeks when I eventually get back into that. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Even at 38, and somewhat light on rugby under his belt, Carter shapes as a pretty handy replacement for the Blues who open the rejigged season on June 14 against the Hurricanes at Eden Park. “I haven’t even thought about playing alongside him … I’d best get some work done first. The Blues have tried before to lure the great Dan Carter into their clutches. Alongside their incumbent trio of playmakers, in Beauden Barrett, Otere Black and Harry Plummer, Carter gives coach Leon MacDonald crucial depth and an experienced head for a competition that is sure to test the resources of the five New Zealand clubs.

Through lockdown you train hard, but it’s nothing like being out with your team-mates.

“I got through five games earlier this year in Japan, and that gave me a lot of confidence bouncing back from neck surgery last year.

"The Crusaders are always going to get the support from me. Leon is a pretty convincing guy.” But he will also have to be a patient coach. Start your Independent Premium subscription today.Long-time Crusaders fly-half has returned to New Zealand to join their fierce rivals in a move that has sparked outrage in Canterbury – as well as within his own familyIndependent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. “There is some great young talent here at the Blues and I can use my experience to help them as well.” Carter made it clear that having his old mate ‘Rangi’ as his coach helped nudge his decision over the line. Circumstances threw up a confluence of events where he had returned home to spend lockdown in Auckland with his family, his Japan season ended prematurely but rugby desire sparked into life. "And I'll just keep my fingers crossed he's not going to get smashed by them. Back then (over the 2015 World Cup cycle) they’d had a master and apprentice type relationship, but it was not lost on Carter that the dynamic had changed as they both approach debut seasons with this franchise. I’ve followed him closely over the last four years and been really pleased with the leadership role he’s taken within his franchise and internationally with the All Blacks. “It wasn’t a straight yes but at the same time it was a great opportunity to be able to train and potentially play in the city where my kids go to school and my family is at now. Dan Carter's surprise return to New Zealand rugby after five years was welcomed today, though Waikato Chiefs coach Warren Gatland joked that … You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium.

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