Dan Carter to Racing Metro

The Saint wrote:Carter must like playing in front of empty stands and now winning any silverware.... Said Boudjellal.

emack2 wrote:Another non story,Carter himself has already said he doesn't know what he will do post RWC.
Every day you read high profile players signed for French sides last week it was Eztebeth.

As to Carter not playing many games?Jonny Wilkinson was a walking sick note how many
injuries did he sustain 2003-14?

Carter sustained an Achilles injury v England 2013 and broke a leg v Waratahs it happens.
32 isn`t exactly dotage and he was Player of the year 2012 for the second time.

emack2 wrote:Another non story,Carter himself has already said he doesn't know what he will do post RWC.
Every day you read high profile players signed for French sides last week it was Eztebeth.

As to Carter not playing many games?Jonny Wilkinson was a walking sick note how many
injuries did he sustain 2003-14?

Carter sustained an Achilles injury v England 2013 and broke a leg v Waratahs it happens.
32 isn`t exactly dotage and he was Player of the year 2012 for the second time.

emack2 wrote:Another non story,Carter himself has already said he doesn't know what he will do post RWC.
Every day you read high profile players signed for French sides last week it was Eztebeth.

As to Carter not playing many games?Jonny Wilkinson was a walking sick note how many
injuries did he sustain 2003-14?

Carter sustained an Achilles injury v England 2013 and broke a leg v Waratahs it happens.
32 isn`t exactly dotage and he was Player of the year 2012 for the second time.

whocares wrote:

emack2 wrote:Another non story,Carter himself has already said he doesn't know what he will do post RWC.
Every day you read high profile players signed for French sides last week it was Eztebeth.

As to Carter not playing many games?Jonny Wilkinson was a walking sick note how many
injuries did he sustain 2003-14?

Carter sustained an Achilles injury v England 2013 and broke a leg v Waratahs it happens.
32 isn`t exactly dotage and he was Player of the year 2012 for the second time.

that's my point, Carter seems a few games away from his next injury. as for Jonny it's true he was a broken man when he joined Toulon but after that he didnt have many thanks to his out of exceptional work ethos.
Carter has nothing to prove and probably doesnt want to go through the same amount of pain and privation that Jonny had to in order to achieve his second coming...so my best guess is : DC arrives unfit after the RWC, waits a month before playing a game in the middle of winter and gets injured before spring then goes home...

whocares wrote:

emack2 wrote:Another non story,Carter himself has already said he doesn't know what he will do post RWC.
Every day you read high profile players signed for French sides last week it was Eztebeth.

As to Carter not playing many games?Jonny Wilkinson was a walking sick note how many
injuries did he sustain 2003-14?

Carter sustained an Achilles injury v England 2013 and broke a leg v Waratahs it happens.
32 isn`t exactly dotage and he was Player of the year 2012 for the second time.

that's my point, Carter seems a few games away from his next injury. as for Jonny it's true he was a broken man when he joined Toulon but after that he didnt have many thanks to his out of exceptional work ethos.
Carter has nothing to prove and probably doesnt want to go through the same amount of pain and privation that Jonny had to in order to achieve his second coming...so my best guess is : DC arrives unfit after the RWC, waits a month before playing a game in the middle of winter and gets injured before spring then goes home...

Taylorman wrote:Bad deal. Carter is consistent with injuries because if his own doings. He keeps insisting he won't play at the top level unless he's playing to his highest standards. Trouble is, getting to that standard keeps pulling him down.

His body won't go where his mind wants to go, and he keeps breaking down. The end of career thing is now seemingly a must for players who now try to wring every dollar out of their playing careers when nothing like that sort of money is guaranteed past their mid thirties. Few go on to tv etc but I sure hope DC isn't let near the commentary box- he'll put everyone to sleep.

It must be scary for these players who if pro from 20 odd haven't really lived a normal life- done the 9-5 grind so to speak, but with the knowledge that they can keep doing it for 30-40 years in one form or another, where by their mid thirties they've established a good career, reputation, security.

Professional players have to 'start again' and whether its coaching, TV, or outside the game, they can never be confident of the same sort of success, and they must rely on other skillets other than their on-field abilities. That must be scary, even if they have a million in the bank.

emack2 wrote:DC has had a lot of caps post Perpignan NO?JW was a permanent injury 2003-7,7-11.11-14
he had nothing to prove either."No chance of making the AB`s post RWC?says who?if
on form would still be in the frame.

doctor_grey wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Bad deal. Carter is consistent with injuries because if his own doings. He keeps insisting he won't play at the top level unless he's playing to his highest standards. Trouble is, getting to that standard keeps pulling him down.

His body won't go where his mind wants to go, and he keeps breaking down. The end of career thing is now seemingly a must for players who now try to wring every dollar out of their playing careers when nothing like that sort of money is guaranteed past their mid thirties. Few go on to tv etc but I sure hope DC isn't let near the commentary box- he'll put everyone to sleep.

It must be scary for these players who if pro from 20 odd haven't really lived a normal life- done the 9-5 grind so to speak, but with the knowledge that they can keep doing it for 30-40 years in one form or another, where by their mid thirties they've established a good career, reputation, security.

Professional players have to 'start again' and whether its coaching, TV, or outside the game, they can never be confident of the same sort of success, and they must rely on other skillets other than their on-field abilities. That must be scary, even if they have a million in the bank.

Agree with everything here. All these guys are so competitive that they are usually the last to know when it is time to hang it up.  I'm sure Carter still has some good Rugby left, but how long can he sustain it until the next time?  It would be nice to see him have a nice autumn to his career and Paris ain't a bad place to do it.  

We see it all the time - athletes who have lived and breathed their sports for so long who have difficulty adjusting to retirement.  Usually sad to see.  Interesting that it is usually the second tier guys, those guys who have to scratch and claw to earn regular positions, who seem to end up more successful than the superstars in their second career.  

ebop wrote:DC confirms he's off to Racing Metro next year

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11376199

The Saint wrote:Will Racing give him a rest after the RWC? If they want to see the best of him ie, uninjured then it's best that they do.

emack2 wrote:Slagged off for doing what his predecessors Spencer and Merthens did.Cash in while
he still has playing time left.Making way both at AB`s and Crusaders for other players
what has he done to deserve that?

LondonTiger wrote:

emack2 wrote:Slagged off for doing what his predecessors Spencer and Merthens did.Cash in while
he still has playing time left.Making way both at AB`s and Crusaders for other players
what has he done to deserve that?

Has anyone slagged him off?  Just commented it may not be the best deal for Racing perhaps, but not read anyone slagging off Carter.

Griff wrote:I hope he does like it - Paris is very different from Perpignan.  I've only heard good things about Perpignan as a place to live/see/travel/holiday, etc.  However, Paris never seems to get the same rave reviews.  As I understand it even French people from outside Paris do not like it!  Not sure this is a great 'lifestyle' move for him.  The money should help tough...

France admits it needs to be friendlier to visitors
By Barry Neild, CNN
June 24, 2014 -- Updated 1659 GMT (0059 HKT)

(CNN) -- It's a big nation that can take a long hard look at itself and reach the conclusion it might be a bit rude toward tourists.

France, which regularly tops lists of countries that are surly to travelers, appears to be waking up to the notion this might not actually be good for business.

While not exactly prompting a full-blown existential crisis, the admission does seem to have led to discussions on how to make its boulevards and brasseries more inviting.

"We must rediscover the meaning of hospitality," Innovation Minister Fleur Pellerin told a tourism conference last week. "Everyone recognizes we can do better on the welcome and quality of service."

This won't be news to anyone who's visited Paris in recent years and received Gallic shrugs of indifference from waiters or hoteliers.

Neither is it the first time that France has done some soul searching about its attitudes.

Targeted by pickpockets

Last year Parisian tourism and trade officials launched a manual offering advice to service industry employees on how to befriend the various nationalities that flock to the city.

Problems apparently persist -- not helped by a 2013 crime wave in which crowds of Chinese tourists were reportedly targeted by pickpockets.

A six-day strike by French air traffic controllers that's expected to create major delays for travelers this week is also unlikely to burnish the nation's image.

Pellerin said France mustn't "rest on its laurels" at a time when the country badly needs the annual $16 billion injection that tourism provides to its economy.

Her comments came as Laurent Fabius, France's foreign minister, said in an interview that he wants to push through new measures to attract visitors.

He told BFMTV that he was involved with discussions to ease France's restrictive Sunday trading laws to open up more shops in Paris.

Fabius said he hopes improved road and rail links between the capital and Charles de Gaulle Airport will also improve matters.

As might a drive to encourage more tourism industry workers to learn other languages.

Shifting attitudes

Fabius said it's "essential" that people understand that any tourist "whether French or foreign -- is someone we should welcome."

Some, however, say that France is at least making progress.

"I think that, on the whole, French attitudes have shifted and that French people are more courteous with tourists than they used to be," French commentator and journalist Agnes Poirier told CNN.

"They are also more likely to be able to speak English and give indications.

"It is difficult for Parisians to simply ignore tourists. They know tourists spend a lot, and are a vital element of the country's prosperity, and should therefore be well treated."

disneychilly wrote:Depends what Racing want. Gate sales, jersey sales and a higher profile mean he's perfect. Will he play like he did against the Lions, no but he was still POTY in 2012 so it's not like he's past it skill wise. Just hope Racing's pack gives him a platform.

Griff wrote:I hope he does like it - Paris is very different from Perpignan.  I've only heard good things about Perpignan as a place to live/see/travel/holiday, etc.  However, Paris never seems to get the same rave reviews.  As I understand it even French people from outside Paris do not like it!  Not sure this is a great 'lifestyle' move for him.  The money should help tough...