Heineken Cup: Carter’s
arrival raises expectation levels at Perpignan
10 December 2008
The
waiting is almost over following confirmation that All Black
fly-half Dan Carter will definitely make his Perpignan debut
in Sunday’s crucial home clash with Leicester Tigers in the
Heineken Cup.
The
26-year-old has only partaken of one training session with
the Catalans so far but anything bar a weekend win at the
Stade Aime Giral would effectively end their dreams of
European glory this season.
Club
president Paul Goze admitted as much when he told the press
that Carter would definitely start.
“With us
being three matches from the end of the pool stages we are
not masters of our destiny now. We are going all out to beat
Leicester and have no regrets,” he said.
However,
costly defeats to the Ospreys and away to Leicester may have
already put the Heineken Cup out of reach, leaving Goze to
accept the Top 14 play-off title may be the more realistic
target for Perpignan this season.
“USAP
are a good team but one which, until now, has never been
able to make that step up. With Carter, we have the
possibility of doing that. He can lead us to the French
championship, which we have been waiting for for 54 years,”
he added.
Over to
you DC.
As if
that wasn’t enough pressure on the admittedly broad
shoulders of the world’s premier rugby star, Perpignan Mayor
Jean-Paul Alduy also put in his two-penneth worth at an
official reception for Carter.
“Everything is possible with you here, especially victory,”
he said. “The entire population of Perpignan and Catalonia
is waiting for you and will help you feel at home.”
Carter,
for his part, is playing the PR role to perfection –
certainly better than his stuttering French at present.
“Obviously there are goals of winning the Top 14 and getting
to the latter stages of the Heineken Cup,” he said. “Those
are the team goals, but personally I want to improve my
rugby and playing in a competition I am not used to is
really going to challenge me. Hopefully I will become a
better player for the experience.
“I saw
the game against Leicester and got a bit of a taste of the
style of rugby we play and I’m looking forward to being part
of it next weekend. Playing in the Heineken Cup was a big
part of my decision. My first match will be in that
competition and I can’t wait,” he added.
The
Catalan club has also been boosted this week by the return
to training of several injured players, including centre
Gavin Hume, back row Henry Tuilagi and utility back Steve
Meyer. Nicolas Laharrague is also expected back in training
next week, although English prop Perry Freshwater remains at
the rehab stage.
Perpignan are currently third in Top 14, four points behind
leaders Toulouse.
Guy
Noves’ team have been in sparkling form of late and surely
have no such qualification worries. They are currently on an
11-match winning streak, including all three Pool 5 games in
the Heineken Cup.
They
have also been buoyed this week by the imminent first-team
return of long-term absentee Vincent Clerc.
The
27-year-old winger is due to run out with Les Espoirs (the
hopefuls) this weekend as he continues his lengthy
rehabilitation from a knee injury sustained in March.
Fly-half
David Skrela has recovered after a recent groin injury ruled
him out of last week’s Heineken Cup victory over
Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Noves
confirmed Skrela had been passed fit to resume playing
duties after getting the all clear from a scan on Tuesday.
“If it
goes well in training for him this week he will be in the
squad,” said the Toulouse boss.
Freddie
Michalak, the club’s other international fly-half, has also
recovered from a knock sustained against the Dragons and
will be available for the return fixture at the weekend.
The Top
14 leaders have further confirmed that scrum-half
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde has signed a three-year contract
extension, keeping him at the club until 2012.
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