Rugby-France welcome back Carter with respect for player and man

By Mathieu Baratas

MARCOUSSIS, France, Nov 25 (Reuters) - French players are full of respect for Dan Carter not only for his supreme talent on the pitch but for the example his showed off it after his Perpignan adventure was cut short by injury.

Nobody in Perpignan has forgotten that even though he played only five games before a snapped Achilles ended his French sabbatical last January, he stayed true to the club until the end of his contract.

Carter, who was at the Stade de France when Perpignan won their first title in 54 years in June and celebrated it like a true Catalan, told rugby weekly Midi Olympique: "It was impossible for me to go back home just like that.

"Even on crutches, I tried to help the club. I analysed our opponents' game on videos. I gave advice to our goalkickers. It wasn't much but it was a way to thank them for the way they made me feel at home."

Carter also impressed his Perpignan team mates by the way he recovered from an injury which could have ended his career.

"Frankly, I was amazed. To come back so quickly at his best level after such an injury shows that he is also a hard worker," Centre David Marty told reporters ahead of Saturday's game against the All Blacks in Marseille.

So much for the man, it's Carter the player that the French respect above all.