Dan Carter compares Super Rugby final's defeat to 2007 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Finals loss
The All Blacks star fly half, Dan Carter, has expressed his disappointment on losing the 2011 Super Rugby final to the Reds. The Australian derby beat the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday, July 9, to walk away with the Super Rugby title.
Dan Carter has termed Saturday’s final defeat as painful as their 2007 Rugby World Cup defeat at the hands of France in the quarter-final game. He added, “We really wanted to win this one, We were getting a lot of accolades before the game saying no matter
what happens the people will be proud of us at home but we knew as a team we wouldn't be happy unless we won.”
Carter added that they not only wanted to win the title for the team and fans but also for all the people living in Christchurch. Crusaders, their fans and others in Christchurch were badly affected by the earthquake in February. He said, “We would have
liked to win it for the people back home because they're really added some motivation for our season.”
Carter further added, “We don't think we let them down, I think they're extremely proud we got this far after everything we've been through. We've given it our best shot all season.”
Crusaders did not play a home game after their headquarters, AMI Stadium, was badly damaged following February’s Christchurch earthquake. This caused the homeless team to be constantly on the move and they played the first of two games during the 2011 season
against the Sharks at Twickenham, London.
Crusaders head coach, Todd Blackadder, has also expressed his disappointment at losing the Super Rugby title. However, he added that he is proud of his team, their hard work and achievements in the season, particularly keeping in view the troubles through
which they and their families had to go through.
Blackadder further added, “I don't think anyone could do what we have done to get to this point. I'm just disappointed we didn't execute.”
Carter has termed his own performance in the Super Rugby final as “Up and Down.” He scored all 13 points for the Crusaders in the game, which included a try, a conversion and two penalties.
Dan Carter will again be in action in the upcoming 2011 Tri-Nations tournament and the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which will be played in New Zealand.
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