Carter: Hook one of the best

Acclaim for stand-off ahead of crunch cup clash

Last updated: 12th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carter: Hook one of the best

Carter: Relishing clash with Ospreys

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All Blacks superstar Dan Carter praised James Hook as one of the best in the world ahead of Perpignan's Heineken Cup clash with Ospreys.

The prolific stand-off, who has scored 879 points for New Zealand, debuted in the Heineken Cup with a man-of-the-match performance against Leicester.

Carter said he was relishing the opportunity of facing off against Hook on Saturday.

"James Hook is a great player and he has shown on occasions just what he's really capable of. He's got real talent and is capable of turning games," Carter said.

"You always want to play against the guys who are the best in their position and he's definintely up there as one of the best 10s."

Injury

Carter was taken off at half-time in Perpignan's 40-14 demolition of Bourgoin over the weekend with an Achilles tendon injury.

However, he is confident of being fit for the must-win clash with Ospreys.

He added: "I am really looking forward to playing against them because as a player you always want to pit yourself against the best and they are certainly a quality side.

"They have real threats all over the field and we are putting everything into this game. We were disappointed to have lost to them earlier in the season but now is the time where we have to dig deep and we know the crowd will really get behind us.

"To play in an atmosphere like that is a new experience for me and it's one of the things I really love about European rugby."

Intense

The Ospreys have been boosted by the return of Welsh internationals Shane Williams and Mike Phillips to European club competition.

However, Carter believes that both he and his team are sufficiently prepared for the challenge after his introduction to the Heineken Cup against Leicester.

"It was similar in standard to the Super 14 in terms of the intensity and I feel ready for this weekend's game now," he said.

"I know I'm likely to get targeted, as much because of my position as anything else, but I've got players with great hands outside me to shift the ball to them which takes a lot of pressure off me."