There's an All Black who is a bit...different from the others. In some ways Daniel Carter is like veggiemite, you either love him (because you're a woman) or you hate him (because your woman is in love with him).

Here's what I think about one of the most famous No.10s in the world. Carter is a great player. Even those who don't like him have to admit that he´s a brilliant first-five (fly-half) - possibly the best in the game nowadays - and that he's got the skills.

As the All Blacks fly-half, he's not only a kicker who considers a game with nine out of 10 conversions a bad one, and a reason to worry about his physical form, but also a great try-scorer and one of the fastest runners and quickest side-steppers in the team.

'It's hard for a man in New Zealand to like Carter. Especially when your girlfriend gives you some singlets for Christmas and sends them back to Jockey later, complaining that you don´t look as good wearing them as Dan does in the ads'


Some of Dan's moves on the field are so brilliant that you don´t even understand the point of his actions straight away. “What the heck is he doing there?” you ask yourself when Carter once again kicks or throws a ball apparently in the wrong direction. And one second later, when a try is scored, you can only wonder whether all of this was pure chance or planned by a genius.

Carter in his best form is an unbeatable weapon. And for this he is regarded very highly all over the world - especially in New Zealand. You only have to open the Sunday Star Times or New Zealand Herald and you will see: the whole nation cares about Carter.

Even if there's not a Test match or World Cup to talk about, the journalists will find something to write about “Dan the man”: So the Herald spent nearly 400 words on DC's new haircut last year- still people are discussing if some missed conversions were due to the fringe hanging into his eyes.

This man causes controversy. But as 'New Zealand's David Beckham', he has to look after his appearance. Maybe that's one reason why he has never dived scoring a try since he's started modelling for Jockey.

Yes, Jockey. As we all know, the guy who still refers to himself as a 'shy country boy' spends his free time upgrading his income by posing in his undies, for photos that will appear weeks later on the walls of skyscrapers and cause accidents because women prefer staring at his six-pack to watching the traffic.

I don't want to know how many girls watch rugby only for seeing Danny looking good in a tight jersey and I wonder how many more people would buy SkyTV when he finally dumped his girlfriend.

Indeed, it's hard for a man in New Zealand to like Carter. Especially when your girlfriend gives you some singlets for Christmas and sends them back to Jockey later, complaining that you don´t look as good wearing them as Dan does in the ads. But I just can't help liking him.

For in spite of all of his fame, Carter is a bloody nice guy - I have had the pleasure to meet this fascinating man twice - and also in interviews you take an immediate liking to him. Journalists have more than once described him as one of the most pleasant sportsmen to interview.

Even if I have to smile sometimes when I drive past a Jockey ad or when I see Dan standing next to a scrum, putting his hands on his hips as if he were on a catwalk - even then I have to express my deepest respect for this man.


Because this man is good, incredibly good, and when you see someone like him moving around the field with so much skill, so much grace and so much fighting spirit your envy perishes at once and all that stays is pure admiration.

And, after all, he's an All Black, and a bloody good one, too.

He should have been carrying home the Webb Ellis Cup with his team. And if he hadn't been injured in that shocking World Cup quarter-final, the French would be on their way home by now and the All Blacks one step closer to their great dream.

But either way, Dan Carter will always be a winner to me.

How does Carter compare with the great No.10s of the past 20 years? Post a comment below or submit an article to Sportingo.