Life’s no beach for Hong Kong-bound Dan Carter despite leading Racing 92 to top of table

Dan Carter admitted having to shelve thoughts of a warm New Zealand beach as he battled driving rain and wind to lead Racing 92 to the top of the Top 14 table in a hard-fought 23-18 victory over Bordeaux-Bègles late Saturday.

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Racing 92 fly-half Dan Carter (right) runs with the ball during a French Top 14 triumph over Bordeaux-Bègles late Saturday at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes. Photos: AFP

Published: 12:30am, 4 Jan 2016Updated: 9:04am, 9 Jan 2016

Dan Carter admitted having to shelve thoughts of a warm New Zealand beach as he battled driving rain and wind to lead Racing 92 to the top of the Top 14 table in a hard-fought 23-18 victory over Bordeaux-Bègles late Saturday.

The former All Blacks fly-half, who will play in Hong Kong on February 6 when Racing 92 tackle reigning Super Rugby champions Highlanders in the Natixis Cup, was instrumental in the win in his first French league start at Stade Yves-du-Manoir in the Parisian surburb of Colombes.

While the inclement weather may have been more winter in Dunedin than springtime in Paris, a smart show-and-give from the Kiwi playmaker set up the decisive try in the 53rd minute of a real slog of a match.

Dan Carter was instrumental in Racing’s 23-18 win over the fourth-placed Bordeaux outfit.

Carter burst inside Felix Le Bourhis’ right shoulder, a one-handed offload allowing Brice Dulin to break clear, with the fullback’s pass to Alexandre Dumoulin gifting the centre a clear run-in.

A conversion and three quick penalties from World Rugby player of the year Carter sealed the win after hooker Dimitri Szarzewski had scored Racing’s opening try.

Six penalties from Simon Hickey (four) and Lionel Beauxis (two) were all the combative Bordeaux side could muster.

“I'm not used to playing through Christmas and New Year, I'm usually on the beach in New Zealand! Bonne annee!” Carter told Canal Plus.