The greatest: Fly-half

As he has done many a season down his stellar career, Dan Carter set a new record on our poll, scooping over 2,000 votes!

As he has done many a season down his stellar career, Dan Carter set a new record on our poll, scooping over 2,000 votes!

In 2003, Carter made his All Blacks debut at age 21 in Hamilton, New Zealand, scoring 20 points.

He hung around on the fringes of the team behind Carlos Spencer and Andrew Mehrtens for a while, playing mostly at inside centre and earning some serious attention at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia where his non-selection behind Spencer was often queried.

But with New Zealand knocked out and John Mitchell offloaded in the aftermath, Carter got his break on the November 2004 tour to the UK and never looked back.

He has 930 Test points to date from his 62 caps, including 25 tries and including his benchmark performance in the black jersey where he notched a personal haul of 33 points in New Zealand's 48-18 thrashing of the British and Irish Lions in 2005.

The previous record for an All Black in a Lions Test had been 18. Carter scored 22 in the second half alone, including a fabulous solo try. He also holds the record for the most points in a Super Rugby season with 221 in 2006.

In games in which he has featured since his debut, the All Blacks have lost only eight – not a bad tally out of 62.

He is now 27, so it is unthinkable he will not be around for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and even the one beyond. The all-time record Test points tally – currently 1099 held by Jonny Wilkinson – is surely within his grasp during his career.

But as far as you are concerned, he is already the greatest of the professional era! He can only get better…

So for now, enjoy the highlights of Carter's finest hour!