Dan Carter names the best fly-halves of all-time

Monday, 27 April 2026 at 09:30

byRugby Rucker

Dan Carter has sparked debate after taking part in a ‘Winner Stays On’ challenge, forcing him to choose between some of the finest fly-halves of the modern game.

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Speaking to Midi Olympique, the New Zealand great was handed pairs of world-class No.10s and asked to pick his preferred playmaker, with each winner moving on to face the next challenger.

Farrell dominates early rounds

Carter kicked things off by choosing between Owen Farrell and Finn Russell — and the England skipper swept that one with ease. Farrell then dispatched the hugely gifted Matthieu Jalibert before facing what Carter felt was a far trickier task: Romain Ntamack. Still, the Saracens man edged the young French superstar.

‘Maybe in five or 10 years time’

“Oh my god, the future or the legend himself? It’s hard but I’m going to go on experience. What Owen Farrell has done in an England jersey is incredible.

“Maybe in five or 10 years, Ntamack will be in the same conversation.”

O’Gara ends Farrell’s run

Next up was an Irish legend. Farrell squared off against Ronan O’Gara — and that’s where his streak ended, though Carter admitted his decision wasn’t exactly neutral.

“I’ve got to go with my mate ROG, he would kill me,” Carter laughed. “He would be straight on the phone and ring me if I don’t choose him. He’s a points-scoring legend.”

O’Gara also triumphed in the all-Ireland showdown with Johnny Sexton.

“Geez, there’s a bit of rivalry there, but I have to go with my mate ROG again.”

Beauden Barrett sweeps past O’Gara

But the La Rochelle boss met his match when Beauden Barrett appeared on the other side of the bracket.

“Picking an All Black over an Ireland player, it’s not fair. Beaudy lives just down the road from me so he might come knocking on my door if I pick Ronan over Beauden, so I will go Beaudy.”

Barrett vs Larkham: a classic matchup

Barrett then faced an enormous challenge in Wallabies great Stephen Larkham, the heartbeat of Australia’s 1999 World Cup triumph. Still, Carter’s patriotism shone through.

“Stephen Larkham’s right there and I had a lot of good rivalries against Stephen Larkham. He was awesome.

“They both played 15 as well, so both really versatile and could play 10 or 15. It’s hard not to pick a New Zealander, I’m a pretty patriotic person, so I will go Beaudy.”

Does Carter pick himself?

When asked if he’d choose himself over Barrett, the famously humble Carter didn’t entertain it, leaving Barrett to move on to the final clash — a showdown with Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson takes the crown

It didn’t take long for Carter to make the call.

“I would have to go Jonny. He was just someone I aspired to be like and someone I really respected, so Jonny Wilkinson,” he said.

“You deliberately put that last otherwise he would have been there most of the time! He was an awesome player.”

More Quizzes:

Dan Carter named THREE Stadiums With Best Atmosphere in World Rugby

Dan Carter, one of rugby's all-time legends, has shared his top three favourite stadiums from across the globe.

With a career filled with unforgettable moments, both for club and country, the former All Black fly-half boasts an impressive list of accolades, including three World Rugby Player of the Year awards.

Here are the three stadiums that stood out most to Carter during his illustrious playing days:

#3. Twickenham Stadium, London

Twickenham, the iconic home of English rugby, holds a special place in Carter’s heart. His standout memory? The 2015 Rugby World Cup final, when New Zealand triumphed over Australia. Carter's 40-metre drop goal during the match became a pivotal moment, helping stem a Wallabies comeback.

“All such special memories but hard to go past the RWC final drop goal,” Carter tweeted in response to a Rugby World Cup post asking fans for their favourite memory of him. “Twickenham, the home of rugby, was certainly bouncing that night,” he added.

#2. Eden Park, Auckland

Carter described Eden Park, New Zealand’s largest stadium, as a place that "comes alive" under the lights. Located near Auckland’s bustling central district and overlooked by Mount Eden, the 50,000-capacity venue is steeped in history.

“Under lights, especially, the place comes alive,” said Carter, who enjoyed many memorable moments at Eden Park throughout his All Blacks career.

#1. Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Topping Carter's list is Cardiff's Principality Stadium, formerly known as the Millennium Stadium. Situated in the heart of the Welsh capital, this 74,500-capacity arena is renowned for its electric atmosphere, especially when the retractable roof is closed.

“I’m often asked which is my favourite stadium to play in, and I always say the Millennium,” Carter said. “It’s an amazing place with an awesome atmosphere. The people of Cardiff and Wales are like the Kiwis back home. They are so passionate about their rugby.”

For Carter, the retractable roof also provided a tactical advantage. “As a kicker, it’s quite handy having a roof on it. That takes away the wind and rain, which you can have a bit of in Cardiff. That’s an added bonus,” he remarked.