Dan Carter praised by All Blacks assistant boss Ian Foster ahead of Rugby World Cup Final debut
Sunday 25 October 2015 19:19, UK
All Blacks assistant boss Ian Foster paid tribute to fly-half Dan Carter for controlling New Zealand's increasingly shrewd approach during a measured second half.
South Africa led 12-7 at the break in Saturday's Rugby World Cup semi-final at Twickenham, Carter missing a regulation penalty and producing a cheap knock-on recovered his poise however, later producing the crucial turnover that led to Barrett's winning try.
The victory sees the 33-year-old finally get his chance to play in a World Cup final before his retirement from the game.
New Zealand failed to make the final in 2007 after a shock quarter-final defeat to France before a training-ground groin injury ruled him midway through the 2011 tournament on home-soil.
Despite helping his side to a second successive Rugby World Cup final, Foster shied away from branding Carter's World Cup form his best yet, but praised the wily playmaker for hitting back after a string of injuries.
"He's in the form that we need him to be in right now," said Foster.
"Over a career, it's hard to say he's in his best form.
"But for someone who's gone through what he has to control the team in the way he does, it's outstanding.
"He's reaping the rewards of really hard work.
"To see him out there running around freely, it's outstanding."
New Zealand boss Hansen allayed injury fears over wing Nehe Milner-Skudder, before taking a swipe at Northern Hemisphere rugby.
"The Rugby Championship has been given a few smacks up this way recently, but we've shown tonight that it's a very physical competition," said Hansen.
"And that if you haven't got physicality, you can't play."
