European Rugby Champions Cup
Dan Carter: Racing 92 teammates settled my nerves in debut
Tom Hamilton
December 13, 2015
Dan Carter takes a kick during Racing 92's victory over Northampton Saints
Dan Carter takes a kick during Racing 92's victory over Northampton Saints© Stu Forster/Getty Images

STADE YVES-DU-MANOIR, Colombes, France -- Racing 92 debutant Dan Carter's nerves were settled when he saw his first conversion sailing through the Northampton Saints posts but he admitted post-match to a touch of uncertainty as he prepared to run out for his new side for the first time.

Carter put in a masterful showing for Racing 92 as he was named Man of the Match for a 63-minute showing that saw him play a role in all three of their first-half tries. Mike Phillips worked superbly in tandem with him and Carter, who has signed a three-year multi-million euro deal with Racing, praised his teammates for the role they played in ensuring his debut ended with a 30-point win.

"It has been pretty easy for me -- the team stepped up but I was nervous before the game because I didn't know how it was going to go but the team made it easy for me and helped integrate me into the squad so I just went out there and played," Carter said following Racing's 33-3 triumph.

"My legs were really heavy at the end of the game and I was blowing a bit -- it was a big ask after six weeks of not playing. "I was pretty happy that first kick went through the posts -- it took a weight off my shoulders when it went through."

Carter's debut came 16 days after he was unveiled as Racing's new marquee signing and posters of him adorned the side of the stadium. It was an eagerly anticipated first outing for the World Rugby Player of the Year and he answered the expectation with a performance that resulted in a standing ovation when he left in the last quarter of the match.

"It was great that the crowd get behind us with their chanting," Carter added. "This is a great bunch of guys and it is lot of fun to be here.

"You look at the talent here, there's so many French internationals, Kiwis, South Africans, it's a real united nations. But talent is not going to be what wins this competition -- it's about how we all gel together but we showed out there tonight that we do come together well as a team and on our day we could beat anyone.

"Northampton will be disappointed and I'm sure they will be a different side next week."

Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder could not hide his disappointment. Mallinder was not happy with referee George Clancy after he disallowed a try for Luther Burrell just before half-time without proper consultation from the TMO -- because the communications equipment was not working.

Mallinder said: "We came up against a very good Racing team that started very well and put us under a lot of pressure and got the two early tries.

"I thought we were coming back into the game and then unfortunately Victor Matfield gave away the interception when we had men over and that could have made a big difference for us.

"Then we had the ridiculous situation before the break where the referee could not consult with the TMO because it was not working, the same thing happened in France last year and we didn't get anything going our way.

"I don't think it's a step backward, Racing are a quality side and you need to be at your very best to best them but unfortunately we weren't."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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