All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 13 September
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Leroy Carter's elevation to the All Blacks comes as little surprise to anyone who watched him play for the Chiefs earlier this year. It proved that the 26-year-old's decision to leave the All Blacks Sevens and make a go of it in Super Rugby Pacific was the right one, but it also says a lot about the benefits of a now almost forgotten pathway.
"The heart definitely started going," said Carter about the moment he learned he'd been picked for Saturday night's test against the Springboks.
"I just wanted to tell my parents and partner…it was always a dream, since I was a little kid."
Carter spent four seasons in the All Blacks Sevens, which is a veritable lifetime for someone wanting to eventually transition to a Super Rugby team. Most Sevens players are either raw talent straight out of school, or provincial level players content with the fact that they're being paid to play and get to travel the world. Either way, focusing on the short form of the game is more of a last than first thought.
There was a time when it was critical to the development of legendary All Blacks like Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen, however while we're a long way from when the Hong Kong Sevens were a glimpse into the future of the All Black backline, it is telling that Carter has made it work for him.
"It made me a professional, I guess," he said in his first media appearance as an All Black.
"I was playing NPC and then going back to work as a sparky, the Sevens environment gave me a professional contract where I could just focus on rugby. All the little things I could focus on, nutrition, planning, it helped me a lot."
Leroy Carter in action for New Zealand All Blacks Sevens v Ireland, Rugby Sevens - Men's Pool A match, Paris Olympics at Stade de France, Paris, France on Thursday, 25 July, 2024. Photo: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz
It's also meant Carter has already had a taste of playing in some of rugby's biggest arenas, in front of large crowds.
"The Paris Olympics was a pretty big occasion, but when you play for the All Blacks the nation is on your shoulders."
Scott Robertson pointed out that Carter's journey from Sevens to test rugby wasn't entirely unique in the modern game.
"It's not uncommon (to have come from Sevens to test rugby). You look at the French with (Gabin) Villiere and Cheslin (Kolbe), (Kurt-Lee) Arendse. And a lot of the teams' players are coming through even for Australia," said Robertson.
Ireland's Zac Ward (R) is chased by New Zealand's Leroy Carter (L) during the men's placing 5-6 rugby sevens match between New Zealand and Ireland during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 27, 2024. Photo: AFP / Carl de Souza
"So, it's definitely an avenue. They come back, there's not a massive amount of kicking in Sevens. There's a lot of passing and running and great defense. So, look, he's filled that skill set."
Carter certainly isn't alone either when it comes to Sevens alumni making their mark. The highly rated Oli Mathis is another future project, while Hurricanes wing Fehi Fineanganofo has successfully transitioned to Super Rugby Pacific.
His former All Blacks Sevens mentor and now Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said the first thing the Sevens coaching staff noticed about Carter was "how hard he wanted to work".
"His attitude to training, it's certainly no coincidence the ability he's shown at Super Rugby. I'm not surprised he's good enough, the modern game around breakdown defence, physicality and workrate off your wing - he fits a lot of those parts of the game that have become so important," said Laidlaw.
Another extremely useful trait is Carter's versatility, especially as Robertson has made it clear that he wants his All Blacks to be able to fill as many roles as possible. Carter has not only started a game at centre for Bay Of Plenty this season but also has played halfback at first class level too.
Assuming that Rassie Erasmus doesn't throw in any last minute changes to his Springbok side before kick-off, Carter will be marking another Sevens graduate, Cheslin Kolbe.
"He's one of the great wingers at the moment, it's another challenge I'm really excited for. I can't wait to compete against him."
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