All Blacks legend Dan Carter reviews four of the best fly-halves of today
Rugby NewsSunday, 13 November 2022 at 19:10
Dan Carter has been discussing some of the best fly-halves around today ahead of England's clash with New Zealand next weekend.
The All Blacks legend did the interview as part of the promotion for his new upcoming book www.thisisopus.com.
#4. Marcus Smith (England)
Carter told the Mail Online: "Owen’s played enough test matches now to slot in at 10 or 12. The big thing is you’ve got an in-form Marcus Smith who Is a real talent and you can’t afford to leave out.
"Marcus is only going to get better the longer he plays. It’s a good problem to have. Owen can allow Marcus to go out there and play without feeling too much responsibility.
"The more often they play together in pressure situations, the more the trust in that combination will build.’"
Marcus Smith Facts:
- Smith was born in Manila in the Philippines and picked up the game at the age of 7 with Centaurs RFC when his family decided to move to Singapore, he learnt the game there before moving to Sussex as a 13-year old
- His Dad, Jeremy Smith lived in Hong Kong from 1992-97, playing for Valley and the national side at fly-half
- At just 18 years of age and 200 days, he made his Premiership debut at Twickenham to become the youngest fly-half to start in the top flight since a 17-year old George Ford
- He is known to many of his teammates as Smudge, which is the traditional military nickname for anyone with the surname Smith.
#3. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
Carter told the Mail Online: "He has really come in and directed things. He was on the bench at the start of the season but he’s taken his opportunities and almost cemented that 10 jersey.
"It’s a joy to have that much quality with Beuady. Richie really reads a game well and he’s a clear, concise decision maker."
#2. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Carter said: “I look at the way Johnny plays, he’s always creating or demanding from the people around him. You can see him leading, and he tells what he wants from the players around him.”
“I think there are a lot of similarities between me and Sexton to be honest. We love to control the game, so some of our specialities or parts of the game that are similar, is that game management. We see space.
#1. Owen Farrell (England)
Owen Farrell, Captian of England scores a conversion during the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
Carter told the Mail Online: "What Owen Farrell’s contributed to English rugby has been immense,
"I played against him at international and club level and he drives the teams he plays for. He demands excellence and to sustain that for 100 caps is an incredible.
"People have their different views of him and his style of play, but the game will miss him when he finishes playing. I always remember him setting the tone with his body language against the haka in 2019.
"He’s one of the rare characters and rare leaders that the game needs. I think he’ll get a lot more respect when he finishes the game. He’ll go onto beat my points scoring record and then he can retire after that!"
Owen Farrell Facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
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