New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has spoken of his desire to banish the memories of watching the 2011 World Cup final while sidelined with injury by helping the All Blacks beat Australia on Saturday.
The world champions beat South Africa 28-24 in their weekend semi-final to set up a showpiece meeting with the Wallabies at Twickenham and give themselves an opportunity to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups.
Carter was absent for the 2011 triumph after injuring his groin in training in the build-up to the final, and he revealed that he was left devastated by having to miss out on playing in rugby union's biggest occasion.
"It was devastating," he told The Mirror. "I was constantly asking, 'Why?'. I was thinking, 'Why me? Why now? Why such a serious injury?' I often think all things happen for a reason but I could not think of one for that.
"This is my fourth World Cup and my first final so I am pretty excited. The biggest challenge for me the last two or three weeks has been not thinking about the result and outcome.
"You can fall into the trap, and I potentially fell into it in our game against Georgia. It is quite easy to start thinking about the result and what potentially could happen."
New Zealand and Australia face off at Twickenham on Saturday.
Tom Nightingale
