Dan Carter spent the days and nights of his childhood playing rugby in his back yard in New Zealand, after his father built him goal posts for his eighth birthday.

The hard work paid off and the 33-year-old is now the most capped fly-half for the All Blacks, and the highest test match point scorer of all time in rugby union.

Despite a career hampered by injury, Carter has fought his way to the top through practice and positive thinking, and has twice picked up the prestigious IRB Player of the Year title, in 2005 and 2012.

Now, as his time with the All Blacks comes to an end, Carter is hoping to make his childhood dreams come true by becoming part of the first New Zealand team to win the World Cup title overseas.