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World Cup hero: Jonny Wilkinson kicks the winning drop-goal in 2003 - Source: Photosport -
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Dan is the man
By Max Bania
Jonny Wilkinson has done just about everything there is to do in rugby.
He's done his shoulder, he's done his groin, he's done his kidney, he's done both knees, he's done his arm, he's done his ribs, he's done his ankle.
And now, he's done his dash.
For a nation that survives on past glories (1966 World Cup, El Alamein, Trafalgar, the Magna Carta), Wilkinson's World Cup heroics make him a relative Jonny come lately.
But six years is an eternity in Test rugby and while Wilkinson has sat idly by, Dan Carter has matched and comfortably surpassed him to achieve the mantle of best first five of a generation.
Doubtless, Wilkinson stands head and shoulders above the archetypal pre-professional era first five in that he's not afraid of the rough stuff. But even he does not possess the speed, strength, agility and evasive skills of his All Black counterpart.
In fact, so complete a player is Carter that he can play anywhere along the backline - and has, at various times at provincial level.
But in the end, the only way to compare the two greats is by looking at the games they have played against each other - and sadly for Jonny, there simply is no comparison to make.
They've only faced off twice, during the hilariously-lopsided walkover that was the 2005 Lion Series. Remember that one where Clive Woodward's over-hyped, overpaid, overrated, overstaffed band of hundreds had their proverbials handed to them by a group of power-puff Super 14 players? Yes, that's the one.
Two memories in particular of that night stick in the mind. The first is Carter receiving the ball on the wing, chipping, chasing, re-gathering and scoring while Wilkinson chased in vain, looking like a competitor's bunny in an Energiser ad.
The second was when Carter fielded a cross kick and - while off-balance - tossed Wilkinson aside like a rag doll as the Englishman attempted to make a tackle.
That moment encapsulated the changing of the guard. It showed Wilkinson as a fading force, and Dan Carter as the young superhero, blazing a path through all before him.
The king is dead (well, if not quite dead then just continuously injured). Long live Dan Carter.
Dan is good but Jonny is great
By Chris Matthews
In his 63 Test career Daniel Cater has revolutionised the first-five eight position.
He possesses the tactical precision of Grant Fox, the ball playing wizardry of Matt Giteau, the strength of Tana Umaga, the speed of Andrew Mehrtens and the goal kicking perfection of Jonny Wilkinson.
Many other beings would give up an arm or an Achilles heel for just one of these talents but not Dan, oh no, because he is indeed the quintessential rugby player.
However while we still reminisce fondly about all these elements aligning so magnificently on July 2, 2005, one dark cloud looms over Carter's career.
The poignant image of the great All Black 10 being reduced to tears in Cardiff 2007 remains the one black mark against his name.
It wasn't that he showed his emotion, we expect that from fashionable first five-eights, but that he failed to elevate his side to the ultimate prize.
Forget that he went into the game with an injury and forget that he watched the final 25 minutes from the sideline, because for Carter to be regarded as a great first five-eight he needs to lead his side to World Cup glory.
Speaking of which, Mr Wilkinson, the English first five-eight who will go head-to-head Carter this weekend, has been there.
In fact, Jonny single-handily elevated his 10-man English machine to the top of the rugby world with a drop-goal from the ages in 2003.
Make no mistake - Wilkinson is one of the standout players of his generation.
He goal-kicks as well as Carter, guides his team around as well as Carter, and probably tackles with even more intent than Carter. Which is saying something - just ask Martin Roberts.
But is he a better player?
Probably not. Carter has the running game and ball playing skills that Wilkinson (and the whole of the English team) can only dream of.
But unfortunately for our Dan he can't be mentioned in the same ilk as Jonny until he grabs hold of William Webb Ellis. Bring on 2011.
