Southbridge club celebrates Carter's success

CHARLES ANDERSON and JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON

Jack Earl is gearing up to mark Dan Carter on his return to club rugby

The 24-year-old landscape architect who was to mark arguably the best rugby player in the world arrived to training by minivan.

He stepped out into the floodlit night fog, onto the sodden earth of North Canterbury's Omihi, and tried to contain his fear.

It was not that Jack Earl was worried that he might be shown up on the pitch by Dan Carter. It was that, on the All Black's first match in six months, Earl might accidentally injure him.

"Gosh," the Glenmark first five-eight said, "Imagine having all of New Zealand after you."

When Earl began the season, having to mark one of the best players in the world was not his concern. It was about getting match fit.

"I'm trying not to focus on DC himself - he's got more things to worry about like the bounce of the ball. It's not all going to go his way, right?"

Carter, who has been on sabbatical since earning his 100th test cap against England in London last November, will start at first five-eighth in the Luisetti Seeds division one play-off match when Southbridge host Glenmark this afternoon.

But that rostering decision was not without its issues. The captain of Southbridge, Shannon Donald, also plays the position. He has decided to move one position out.

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Southbridge club celebrates Carter's success