Review: Dan Carter 1598
Coffee table books of a sporting variety have been rare in New Zealand during the years. There have been some exceptions, with excellent works on Bruce McLaren, Jack Lovelock and Richie McCaw, but it hasn’t been a genre well served, compared to Australia, England and the United States, though the smaller market is a factor.
Dan Carter 1598 attempts to change this as a large scale pictorial tribute to his astounding point scoring feats in test rugby. Carter set marks that will probably never be broken, especially by another New Zealander, and this is a game-by-game visual celebration of his longevity, flair and metronomic consistency.
It’s an ambitious project that doesn’t cut any production corners with lavish photography, artistically laid out on heavyweight paper. Aesthetically it’s hard to fault. Carter is probably the most snapped All Black of all time given his length of service and involvement in so many key moments, leaving a mountain of images to select from.
But they have been chosen well; there is a great variety which convey the drama, camaraderie, emotion and physicality of the sport. It’s also a reminder of the power of the photograph, easily forgotten in our digital, fast twitch world. A shot from his 33rd test, in Lyon, France, is simply beautiful, while another, capturing a last minute drop kick against Ireland in Christchurch is a result those behind the lens dream about.
Carter is an ideal subject, due to his amazing career. He played 112 tests, but probably missed 30 more due to injuries; with better luck, this volume could have been titled 2098.
The text plays second fiddle in this tome but still offers some fascinating reading, along with statistical quirks. Carter didn’t lose a test in New Zealand until his 49th, letting “the whole country down” after a late missed drop goal. He would only suffer one more defeat on home soil across his entire career.
Carter, whose father built him a set of backyard goal posts for his eighth birthday, set the world point scoring record in his 79th test and extended from there. Sometimes he went two or three entire games without missing a kick and chipped in with 29 tries.
But it wasn’t straightforward. He reveals the nerves that gripped him before his first All Blacks’ conversion and more poignantly the fear that left him almost unwilling to try and kick again after a serious groin injury in 2011.
His body was broken and busted throughout his career; Carter admits his confidence was at an all-time low when he was dragged against Scotland in 2014 after a dismal personal display. He had to fight off numerous rivals for his spot while dealing with the constant pressure and loneliness that only fellow goalkickers can relate to.
Carter was often reserved in interviews but has been more forthcoming since retirement. He is candid here, especially about the times when his lack of focus or solid preparation showed with a poor weekend display. He describes his nerves “as a kid with a mullet” entrusted to run the New Zealand backline in an early test and the later work that was done with All Blacks psychologist Gilbert Enoka to confront some performance fears.
There are amusing moments, with the young fashion focussed No 10 obsessed with the stylish French uniform during one test or lamenting a poor haircut choice at the 2015 World Cup which played on his mind during his farewell tournament. These vignettes were often fascinating and insightful, so it was disappointing that several tests were remembered with just a solitary line.
Not every game is memorable but “Always a proud moment having a 20-points plus game” or “I’d been working towards this moment for four years,” seemed a little trite and surely some kind of nugget could have been found.
But that’s a small quibble. Dan Carter 1598 is a wonderful tribute to a remarkable player. It should appeal to a wide cross section, not just rugby aficionados, and is the kind of book that could become a family treasure, passed along the generations.
Reviewed by Michael Burgess
