DAN CARTER goes hunting for the one major trophy that has eluded him in world rugby on Saturday.
The World Cup winner is looking to finish his European career at Racing 92 with a Champions Cup medal – adding to his three Super Rugby crowns and one Top 14 title in France.
Ex England boss Stuart Lancaster’s red-hot favourites Leinster can wreck the 36-year-old fly-half’s party in Bilbao – if they can land a record-equalling fourth European Cup.
And former Lions, Leinster and Ireland star Brian O’Driscoll said: “Dan Carter is one of the greats of the game and I’m sure his appetite is burning to head out of European rugby on a high.
“He did it on international duty by winning the World Cup in 2015 with a man of the match performance, before retiring from Test rugby, so don’t bet against it.
“Carter is a big game player and he has proven that over 15 years and he doesn’t really have sub standard performances. Leinster are dealing with the ultimate competitor there is and he still has one big game left in him.
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“Is he beyond his best? Probably – but not by a whole lot. He came off the bench in the semi-final and saved two tries singlehandedly. For a 36-year-old to still have the appetite for the grunt work shows what kind of a player he is.”
Kiwi legend Carter was capped 112 times by New Zealand and played Lanny’s Red Rose’s twice – winning one and losing another.
Despite leading England to their worst ever performance at their own World Cup finals in 2015, Lancaster is now on the road to redemption with Dublin-based Leinster.
Rising from the ashes after his Red Rose horror-show, Leinster great O’Driscoll believes the 48-year-old is the brains behind this classy side.
BOD said: “The Leinster boys absolutely love him.
“I’m sure he felt badly burnt with what happened in the World Cup and the aftermath of that with England. I don’t think Leinster took a chance by signing him, but I’m sure he was thankful of the opportunity to go back and coach.
“He’s not doing all the administration roles that he used to – now he is just out on the pitch. And the boys have thrived under the culture of his coaching. Stuart has really helped them bounce back to being a big player in Europe again.”
Key to Leinster drawing level with Toulouse’s four Euro pots at the San Mames Stadium will also be Leinster playmaker Johnny Sexton.
Sexton, 32, was part of the hat-trick of Leinster’s European domination, before leaving for Racing 92 and returning home in 2015.
And O’Driscoll added ahead of the final in the in the Basque Country: “Johnny’s willingness to take the ball to the line and see the really, really late passes and where the space is – he is pretty unrivalled at that. Owen Farrell when he is really on song is in that category.
“But Sexton’s whole game is great to watch and I imagine it is a joy to play outside him right now. And he and Leinster are happy to have that favourites tag too. Now it’s about being able to deliver when it is expected of you – like Toulon and Sarries did.”
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