Carter: No excuse for missed kicks in the World Cup.

During the first few weeks of this tournament, there's been a bit of discussion and speculation about the missed kicks being made. Is it the weather conditions? A funny ball? Kicker's technique? Well according to Dan Carter there are no excuses for kickers missing their target, it's their own fault. Although when presed he admitted that the local conditions provided a challenge for kickers and that the newly designed ball was hard to master, he said there were no problems for kickers that time on the practice field couldn't solve. The World Cup is being played in New Zealand's spring, one of its most volatile and certainly its most windy season. Many goalkickers have struggled to maintain their usual success rates in often blustery conditions, in stadiums which are more exposed to the elements than they are used to.

'I guess the conditions can vary quite a lot in New Zealand depending on where you are. In Wellington it can prove fairly difficult with the windy conditions at times. A lot of the stadiums overseas are such huge stadiums that it is quite tough for things like wind to get in and be an effect. But that's something you have to adjust to as a kicker. You can't use it as an excuse.'

He said the goalkickers were allowed one session before each match at the stadium 'to sort of fine-tune things'. 'It can be challenging at times but it's just something you've got to adapt to.' Carter admitted he had been frustrated at times in adapting to the new Gilbert-brand ball being used exclusively at the World Cup. Again, he said, the only answer was long hours on the training field to learn its foibles and to perfect technique. 'It doesn't have as much give so if you don't quite strike it right it doesn't fly as straight as you'd like it to at times,' Carter said. 'But once again it's the same for every kicker and it's just a matter of continuing to work hard on the practice pitch to make sure you're fine-tuning your routine and your rhythm, to make sure it's well intact because if you strike it well then it goes straight.' Frustrating? 'It can be at times. Obviously, when you play with a certain ball you get used to it. To have a new one for such an important tournament can be frustrating early on but it's just a matter of getting that and working hard on the practice pitch.'

Source: The Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2042287/Rugby-World-Cup-2011-Dan-Carter-No-excuse-missed-kicks.html

Do you agree with his comments? Is it down to the individual kickers not practising enough or getting used to the ball?

The bottom line is that all the goalkickers at the World Cup are in the same boat (not literally, of course). It sounds as though there's less margin for error with this ball than others, so practising with it is vital.

Ronan O'Gara has 10 from 12. No issues there.

I fancy a little bit of skulduggery has gone on here.

Wasn't there a similar situation last time where by England were only given 2nd grade balls and not the official match ball to practice with, plus the ball pressure was different depending on which ball boy brought on the ball.


Lets not forget NZ have to win this world cup at all costs

Which 'last time' was that?

Of course it's donw to the kicker's Jonny Wilkinson said pretty much the same thing (at least he said it was his fault, he couldn't work out what he was doing wrong as it 'felt' right but wouldn't go where he wanted)

Last time was 2007. It was an issue then

BlueMuff wrote:Ronan O'Gara has 10 from 12. No issues there.

What's up with Johnny Sexytoes then?

HammerofThunor wrote:Last time was 2007. It was an issue then

But England got to the final. It can't have caused Jonny Wilkinson too many problems!

The IRB hate England, thats why England players always get pinged at the breakdown despit the other team getting away with it.

Its just like 2007 all over

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:Last time was 2007. It was an issue then

But England got to the final. It can't have caused Jonny Wilkinson too many problems!

We would have won if not for the ball