Why the All Blacks ‘couldn’t get too close’ to Dan Carter before semi-final

Rugby World Cup-winning icon Dan Carter made another guest appearance at All Blacks training on Wednesday as the New Zealanders prepared for a semi-final showdown with Argentina at Stade de France.

As part of an All Blacks “legacy group,” legends Keven Mealamu, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith and Liam Messam have also entered the team’s inner sanctum this year.

But with the All Blacks potentially 80 minutes away from another World Cup final, there might not be anyone better to have in camp than three-time World Rugby Player of the Year Dan Carter.

Carter, who was injured during the victorious 2011 campaign before starring four years later in England, watched on as the All Blacks were put through their paces on a rainy afternoon in Paris.

But as coach Ian Foster jokingly revealed, the players “couldn’t get too close” to the champion flyhalf.

“Really informal yesterday. He touched base with a few players, but it’s about having him there,” Foster told reporters on Thursday.

“We brought a number of them in before the tournament and we’ve been privileged enough to have some of them around during the tournament. The team love it and I love it as they’ve got a rich history of loving this jersey and what the jersey stands for.

“We have got a great way of transferring that on to this current group. Often it’s not done with words, sometimes it’s just about being there.

“We couldn’t get too close to Dan as he had a nice cream jacket on which meant none of us could hug him as we were all dirty. He was pretty protective about getting that dirty too so we kept our distance, but it was great having him in.”

The All Blacks made a statement last weekend as they booked their spot in the World Cup semis with a thrilling 28-24 win over a confident Irish outfit.

Ireland were on a 17-Test unbeaten run before playing the All Blacks at the Parisian venue, but their streak came to an end in heartbreaking circumstances. Thousands of Irish fans fell uncharacteristically quiet as another quarter-final exit was etched into the history books.

New Zealand brought their A-game to that Test, and they’ll need to do the same against Argentina if they want to make their third final in four World Cups. The All Blacks are approaching this Test as if it were the big dance.

“It’s a final. Definitely a final. The concept of 'no tomorrow' from the last game is exactly the same as for this one,” Foster added.

“We know on the schedule there is another game for the teams that don’t win their semi-final but our mindset, and I’m sure Argentina’s is the same, is they just want to give everything they’ve got this week. It’s all about this week and that’s how we keep things nice and simple in our mind.”