Super Rugby
Dan Carter never been so excited: Andy Ellis
ESPN Staff
July 23, 2014
Dan Carter is rejuvenated and ready to fire, Andy Ellis says
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Dan Carter is a different man since returning from his six-month sabbatical to play a key role in the Crusaders' bid for their eighth Super Rugby title, and their first since 2008, with team-mates noting he seems to have rediscovered his love for professional rugby.

"It's the most I have seen him [excited]," Andy Ellis said at training ahead of the Super Rugby semi-final against the Sharks at AMI Stadium on Saturday.

"He's not drinking, and we know DC loves a beer. He's in the pool after every session, stretching; he's in the gym first thing. It's just incredible. To have him back and kind of leading the way for a lot of the other guys to show this is what it takes to be playing really well at this level is great."

Dan Carter is playing with renewed zest since his sabbatical, Andy Ellis says © Getty Images
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Carter returned to the Crusaders side as a replacement in the 16-9 loss to the Hurricanes on June 28, but his efforts since, as second five-eighth outside Colin Slade, have given the team something they had been missing. He has led the defensive line while also showing a renewed ability to accelerate through a gap and break tackles.

"It's just nice having a guy like him out on the field who smiles and has a calm manner," Ellis said.

Ellis said the Crusaders this time would not fail to change their game plan if it were not working, as happened when they slumped to a shock 30-25 defeat by the Sharks in Christchurch in mid-May.

"We went in with that mindset that we were going to kick because that's what they do, they kick and try and pressure you," Ellis said. "So we decided we were going to kick back and put it back on them. But when they got down to 13 men, we probably should have gone to a style of rugby where we moved them around a little bit more."

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