All Blacks great Dan Carter has gone the distance for his childhood Southbridge club in perhaps his final hit-out before making his Blues debut in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
A surprise recruit for the Auckland-based rugby francise, Carter has spent the past month preparing himself to play, after his stint with Japanese club Kobelco Steelers was cut short by COVID-19.
In recent weeks, he has reconnected with his first club near Leeston, auctioning an All Blacks jersey online to help Southbridge ride out the financial strains of the pandemic.
On Saturday, he pulled on the familiar-looking blue-and-white jersey - Auckland rugby colours - for the first time in six years, helping the club to a 54-14 win over rivals West Melton.
Wearing the No.10 jersey, Carter, 38, was expected to play just 60 minutes, but saw out the full 80, moving to second-five over the closing stages.
"I said I'd play 60 or 80, but our second-five had a tight hammy, so I had to do the full 80, but it was good," he said afterwards. "It's always nice coming back home and playing for Southbridge.
"It was a good first half. I was blowing a bit in the second half, but I really enjoyed it... just coming back seeing familiar faces and familiar surroundings.
"I have a lot of childhood memories, playing here at the club and I don't get out here that often, so when I do it's always pretty special."
Carter hadn't practiced with the side, but masked his unfamiliarity with his teammates by lurking behind the backline in the early stages and soon began barking instructions as the game progressed.
Unfortunately, Carter's first touch of the ball came in the build-up to an intercept try that gifted West Melton the early advantage, but there were glimpses of the genius that has made him arguably the greatest first-five to ever play the game.
He provided the final passes on two of Southbridge's tries, chip-kicked into space to set up a third and kicked six of seven conversion attempts, narrowly missing one from the left touchline.
Carter played alongside cousin William Carter, throwing him a hospital pass that set him up for a nasty collision at one point.
Dad Neville drove him to the game, just like the old days, but Carter hinted the car wouldn't make the return journey later on Saturday night.
"In true club fashion, we'll be enjoying a couple of beers after a game like that, so we'll be walking home afterwards," he chuckled. "It's just around the corner, a couple of hundred metres from here."
The Blues are enjoying a bye this weekend, after three straight wins since the revamped Super Rugby format emerged from coronavirus lockdown. They're due to face the three-time defending champion Crusaders - Carter's old outfit - in Christchurch next week, but he was uncertain he'd make the line-up that soon.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has the luxury of two classy first-fives already with incumbent Otere Black in career form and current All Blacks star Beauden Barrett relocated to fullback. Carter's likely role would be from the bench, when he does finally return to action.
"If anyone saw that game today, they'd say I was a bit rusty, to be honest," he assessed. "I don't feel I can play at Super Rugby level just yet, but you leave selections up to the coaches.
"It's good to make a first step back towards potentially playing again. Whether I play or not, I'm not too worried - I'll leave that up to Leon and the selectors."
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