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TEAM INEOS UNITED KINGDOM
Dan Carter with the British America’s Cup team at Eden Park.
The British America’s Cup syndicate met with All Blacks great Dan Carter to give them advice on pressure situations and vowed to be competitive for his return to action.
INEOS Team UK missed the two official practice sessions last week because they suffered premature damage and the British media have labeled their boat as “the lamest of lame ducks”.
But a defiant grinder Freddie Carr has spoken of the promise that awaits them as they play with the boat, and he felt that a session with Carter at Eden Park was the perfect tonic on the back of a frustrating days in which they were forced to watch. their opposition, rather than lining up against them.
“We got off the site and had fun with Dan Carter. He shared his experiences in high pressure situations and spoke extensively about the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and how he dealt with that pressure, ”Carr told Sky Sports in the UK.
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“Every cloud has a silver lining, I guess, and it was brilliant. We all know that the All Blacks team from 2010 to the present day is considered one of the best sports teams of all time.
“We had a talk about the culture within the All Blacks and what makes this culture a winner and not just their starting XV but the group in general.
“Many of those lessons translate to us as the navigation team and also to the design team. It was a really fun morning. “
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Te Rehutai from Team NZ and Britannia from INEOS Team UK training at Waitemata Harbor in Auckland.
Union boss Sir Ben Ainslie has called the New Zealand team “the All Blacks of sailing” and spoke about the challenge of beating them in their home waters. Right now, INEOS Team UK seems a long way from the speed and maneuverability shown by the Kiwi defenders.
Carter said he enjoyed the session after Ainslie earned the pleasure of the Eden Park session at an auction last week.
“Wonderful morning playing tactile rugby and kicking goals. We look forward to seeing you race over the next few months. I’ll be the guy who waves the New Zealand flag, ”Carter said.
Carr admitted that the sailing team’s rugby skills weren’t very good, but dismissed growing doubts about the British Cup challenge and stated: “I think we are where we want to be.”
INEOS TEAM UK
The performance of the Britannia II, the new racing boat built by INEOS Team UK, has been questioned.
He felt there was a lot waiting for them to improve their controversial second ship, which was a huge leap in design from the original AC75 Britannia.
“The thing about us is that we believe very well in our hardware,” Carr told Sky Sports in the UK, as all four teams were due to take part in two practice races on Monday and Tuesday before the four-man world series. days and Christmas. The Cup regatta starts on Thursday.
“We take a look at our package, look at what we currently have in terms of hull shape, fins and sails – it’s the three things that add up to your boat’s speed completely – and we’re confident we have the hardware to go. and be very competitive this week and beyond.
INEOS TEAM UK
INEOS UK team grinder David “Freddie” Carr is a veteran of the America’s Cup.
“The other thing we’re looking at is where we’ll be a month from now when it really matters in the Prada Cup (Challenger Series).
“With the key hardware additions that we have over the Christmas period, we are very confident.
“The learning curve is very steep for us, as it is for all teams. I look at the group that I’m working on, the navigation team, and with the design team and I’m really improving the hardware that we have, I’m sure we’re going to have a really good race this week and then into the new year. “
