ALL BLACKS LEGEND Dan Carter believes Ireland are still suffering from a World Cup hangover having failed to win any of their Six Nations games to date.
Ireland’s title defence hasn’t gone to plan and Joe Schmidt’s side welcome Italy to Dublin on Saturday still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
And Carter says the Irish team will still be hurting from their quarter-final defeat to Argentina at the World Cup last September.
“I am surprised Ireland haven’t gone past the quarter-finals,” Carter told 98FM in Dublin yesterday. “Especially after the success they had for the couple of years leading up to the World Cup.
“I can understand why they’re extremely disappointed with not going further but they were unlucky. They had a lot of serious injuries to key players in that team for the World Cup so it was a tough one for them and I’m sure it was a tough one for them to take.
“That loss against Argentina would have really hurt them and it probably might still be affecting them going into the Six Nations.
“But they’re a very proud nation, a proud rugby team and I’m confident they’ll bounce back.”
While Ireland were left to lick their wounds following another disappointing exit, Carter and New Zealand went on to lift the Webb Ellis trophy for the second successive time.
It was Carter’s final act in international rugby after he decided to call time on his glittering career with the All Blacks after 112 caps.
Now he’s a keen observer and admits Ireland coach Schmidt has all the credentials to assume the reins of the All Blacks one day.
“Who knows?” he said when asked about the possibility of Schmidt becoming New Zealand coach.
“There’s a lot of amazing New Zealand coaches coaching abroad and Joe is exactly one of those. He’s a fantastic coach, you saw the success he had with the Irish team for a number of years and it would be a real test for him to see how he bounces back after the World Cup.
“He’s already turned this team around so I’m sure he’ll be able to do it again. Whether he comes back to New Zealand or not who knows but from what I hear he’s a great coach.”
You can listen to that interview with Dan Carter in full on 98FM’s Now That’s What I Call Sport with Jamie Moore from 9am.
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