Rugby World Cup
Dan Carter's last All Blacks World Cup campaign 'all about enjoyment'
AAP
October 15, 2015
Do the All Blacks fear France?

Dan Carter is determined to enjoy the latter stages of a Rugby World Cup.

He is nearing the end of a monumental career and knows only too well the pitfalls of World Cup knockout rugby so his thoughts aren't drifting beyond the quarterfinal against France in Cardiff on Saturday.

In 2003, he watched from the bench as the All Blacks bowed out in their Sydney semi-final loss to Australia.

Four years later, he was injured and replaced at a key point in the quarterfinal loss to France in Cardiff.

Dan Carter
Dan Carter© Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

In 2011, when New Zealand ended their World Cup title drought, he was on crutches following a training ground injury during pool play.

Subsequent seasons have been severely hobbled by injury, but he has put the medical woes behind him in 2015, playing the more Test minutes this year (560) than any All Blacks player other than Kieran Read.

Carter has appreciated the field time and hopes it will translate into an influential last hurrah before he leaves for a lucrative contract at Paris club Racing 92.

"The World Cup's been a big focus for me this year after having a couple of years of frustration with my body and the fact that I know this is my last crack at it, it's all about enjoyment," he said.

"That's why I play the game and sometimes you can forget about that when you are going through tough periods with injury or form or whatever. It's important you are focused on the game, but you can have that enjoyment."

© AAP

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