Racing 92 vs Northampton Saints match report: Dream debut for Dan Carter as Saints suffer

Racing 92 33 Northampton Saints 3

(Getty Images)

Dan Carter managed three conversions on his debut as the highest paid player on the planet and had converted the Parisian crowd within 62 minutes of action.

The New Zealand fly-half, who is pocketing around £700,000 a year for three seasons’ work at Racing 92, started paying back some of those euros on a chastening night for Northampton.

Saints were missing big names like Dylan Hartley and Tom Wood but this was thumping orchestrated by Carter, who might have 1,598 Test points but also admitted to first-night nerves. He settled those within 15 minutes with a trademark touchline conversion and then was in cruise control as the Top 14 side dominated the contest.

The 33-year old (pictured, right) said: “I was pretty happy that first kick went through the posts – it took a weight off my shoulders when it through.

“The team made it easy for me and helped me integrate, and I just went out there and played.

“My legs were really heavy at the end of the game and I was blowing a bit – it was a big ask after six weeks of not playing.”

Northampton might have been dominated but they had a legitimate gripe when centre Luther Burrell appeared to score but technology failed them just before half-time. The broadcasters could not get the right camera angle and referee George Clancy could not talk to the TMO, so had to make a call himself. A score then would have made it 14-10 and Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder was in less than charitable mood.

He said: “The TMO isn’t working. It’s rubbish. There were no camera angles. It’s French broadcasters who can’t get the right angles and there’s no communication with the TMO, so the referee had to make his own decision. Luther Burrell said he put the ball down. We had it here last year.”

Carter arrived here a fortnight ago but this was the first chance the Racing faithful had got to see him kick a ball in anger. Northampton had barely been in the opposition half when it was 14-0 – thanks to prop Eddy Ben Arous burrowing over and another conversion from the new boy.

Carter was not the only World Cup winner on the field – Northampton’s lock Victor Matfield won it with South Africa in 2007 but he did not win over 100 caps for his passing ability.

It showed on the stroke of half-time when he was intercepted five metres from his own line and Racing full-back Brice Dulin ran almost the length of the field for the hosts’ third try.

Carter added the extras and Saints were well and truly under the cosh, although JJ Hanrahan did knock over a penalty.

Dulin went over for his second – and the bonus point – on 43 minutes before Carter proved he is human after all by hitting the woodwork with his conversion. With Carter off, having received a standing ovation, another sweeping move from the French saw wing Juan Imhoff go over for the fifth try.

Racing 92: B Dulin; J Rokocoko, C Laulala (A Dumoulin, 63), H Clavancy, J Imhoff; D Carter (J Goosen, 63), M Phillips; E Ben Arous (J Brugnaut, 53), D Szarzewski (capt, C Chat, 59), B Tamefuna (SA Gomes, 59), L Charteris, F van der Merwe (M Cariizza, 63), W Lauret, Y Nganga, C Masoe (A Claassen, 67).

Northampton: B Foden; J Elliott (A Tuala, 65), L Burrell, T Stephenson, G North; JJ Hanrahan (S Myler, 57), L Dickson (capt, K Fotuali’i, 57); A Waller (E Waller, 47), M Haywood (M Williams, 59), K Brookes (P Hill, 57), M Paterson, V Matfield (C Day, 57), C Lawes, T Harrison, S Dickinson (J Gibson, 53).

Referee: G Clancy (Ireland).