European Rugby Champions Cup
Box-office Dan Carter dictates impressive Racing 92 debut against Northampton
Tom Hamilton
December 12, 2015
Dan Carter makes his debut for Racing Metro
Dan Carter makes his debut for Racing Metro© Stu Forster/Getty Images

STADE YVES-DU-MANOIR, Colombes, France -- A world-class orchestra needs the best conductor money can buy; someone who can dictate tempo, depth and move from one movement to the next. Dan Carter's debut for Racing 92 against Northampton Saints saw him play the role to perfection for the 63 minutes he was on the field.

Carter's ability to pull the strings, choose the right options and decision-making when to bring in the ball carriers or the sidesteppers was key in Racing 92's five-try 33-3 win over Northampton. His overture was being crowned Man of the Match.

It was a hugely impressive performance, one that the club's bankroller Jacky Lorenzetti will hope signals the start of a new silverware-laden era for his beloved Racing 92, a team he labels the 'angels' to Mourad Boudjellal's Toulon 'devils'.

The mere bricks and mortar of the Stade Yves-du-Manoir were not really fitting for Dan Carter's first kicks in anger as a Racing 92 player. The black paint was blistered with rust beneath the grand portrait of him on the outside of the ground. Inside the stadium to the right and left of the tunnel an area of old terracing was cornered off by a blue and white partition.

The much-heralded French cuisine was sparse outside the stadium and while the local aristocracy would have experienced better fare, as Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti patrolled the outskirts of the pitch an hour or so prior to kick-off, there was an excitement of the imminent site of Carter hooped jersey but also the stadium that is being built just under five kilometres away from their dilapidated ground in the heart of Colombes.

The screen at the Boulevard Pierre de Coubertin end of the ground was showing mock-ups of their new state-of-the-art multipurpose Arena 92 which they hope to have moved in by January 2017. That is where Racing hope the Carter-effect will have its full impact. Just 8,733 spectators witnessed Carter's debut for Racing, the new stadium will house 40,000. It needs box office attractions like the world's best player to fill it and the early signs were he will have honorary Francilien status by the time he finishes his sojourn in Hauts-de-Seine.

For those who shoehorned themselves into the two stands and waved their flags, as the temperature dropped they would have been warmed by the site of Carter lining up his first conversion. It took 13 minutes to see why Racing president Jacky Lorenzetti was so keen to make him the first million-euro player.

The touchline kick for Henry Chavancy's kick sailed through, as did attempts two and three but it was his game management which remains so impressive. He has only been in France for 16 days but he has built an understanding with Mike Phillips -- whose passing and timing allowed Carter to flourish -- at halfback and the rest of the team pivot off him.

Dan Carter prepares to take a penalty for Racing Metro
Dan Carter prepares to take a penalty for Racing Metro© Stu Forster/Getty Images

His old All Blacks teammate Joe Rokocoko twice took a neat inside pass from Carter to then run the loop around the fly-half to carve the Saints part. That link-up play helped Eddy Ben Arous to his 18-minute score with the France prop able to flop over the line unopposed such was the disarray in Northampton's ranks.

He also survived the unenviable task of being in Courtney Lawes' sights -- the lock was stationed at blindside seemingly for the purpose of shutting down Carter. Lawes has a reputation for putting in the hardest of hits and three times in the first half he connected with Carter just as he was flinging a pass out. But Carter, with his right knee heavily strapped, took the first two hits and brushed off the third.

His performance in the second-half was quieter compared to his forays in the first. With Racing holding a 21-3 lead at half-time, the tempo of the match shifted to andante once they had the bonus point sewn up after 43 minutes.

While Carter was their standout player, Ben Arous, Yannick Nyanga and Racing's back three were also sublime. Northampton will feel aggrieved at Luther Burrell's score just prior to half time being ruled out and will question some of the decision making by George Clancy but they were second best.

The stadium has seen some famous days. The 1924 Olympics played out here, including the gold medals won by Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell of 'Chariots of Fire' fame. France played 99 Tests here from 1908 through to 1972. But with the running track still hugging the outsides of the field and the toil of age showing on the ground, Carter's debut could yet be the antiquated stadium's final hurrah.

As the grey sky turned into the black of night with the Northampton players blending into the gloom, what remained stark against the opaque Parisian backdrop were the blue and white shirts of Racing 92.

This was as commanding a performance as you will see from a team this season with the New Zealand fly-half born 11,836 miles from this corner of France already embraced as a new crowd favourite. He was the box-office attraction, the man at the top of the bill. On first impressions, Carter's wage is money well spent. Those who took to their feet to applaud him off the field certainly thought so.

© Tom Hamilton
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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