He has the scalps of World Cup finalists South Africa and New Zealand already this season but this is the game with his name written all over it.
Gloucester at Bath for a semi-final place in the European Challenge Cup lacks the magnitude of Argentina beating the All Blacks in Wellington, then downing the Springboks in Santiago del Estero.
But for Pumas star Santiago Carreras it is his current team playing the club he joins this summer and giving a good account of himself at the Rec on Sunday means the world to him.
Keen to leave on a high
“I’ve been almost five years here at Gloucester and it’s very important to me that I bring my best right to the end and help this team to win a trophy,” he says.
“I’m looking forward to joining Bath but that is for later. For now everything is about Gloucester. I really love this club, this team, the fans.
“It’s always tough to leave a place when you love the people, but I’m determined to make the most of the time I have left.”
Carreras has faced his forthcoming employers twice already this season. Each time Gloucester claimed a four-try bonus point – and lost.
But victory at Montpellier last weekend, fresh from sticking a half century of points on Bristol, has the Cherry and Whites in high spirits ahead of the short trip south.
Gloucester know this time has to be different. That coming flying out of the traps, as they did in the two league meetings, works only if you sustain the onslaught.
Of the 57 points they scored at Kingsholm and the Rec, 50 came before half-time. It does not take a genius to see the flaw in that, given Bath racked up 52 points in the two second halves.
“Yeah, we have to keep the intensity for 80 minutes,” says Carreras. “They are a really physical team. The challenge for us is to bring our game from start to finish, to challenge them for the whole game.”
Bath have recalled ace playmaker Finn Russell after winning in Pau without him a week ago. A month after ending their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Premiership Rugby Cup, Johann van Graan’s trailblazers remain on course for three pieces of silverware.
But the South African has warned his players that knockout rugby brings a different pressure from the week-to-week Gallagher Premiership and says it will be “fascinating” to see which of the derby rivals handles it best.
Carreras, 27, has a big few months ahead of him. Before moving clubs he has the small matter of Argentina’s match in Dublin against the British and Irish Lions – followed by England’s two-Test tour to South America.
Wants to do something special
The 53-cap star has aspirations to be the best player in the world. But all in good time. Right now he would give his eye teeth for a cup bedecked with Cherry and White ribbons.
In a tournament in which they reached the final against Sharks a year ago, both player and club are desperate to go one better.
“Every game from hereon is a cup final,” insists Carreras. “We are in the top four of the Premiership and the final eight in Europe. 100 per cent we believe we can do something special.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/santiago-carreras-insists-everything-is-about-gloucester-as-he-targets-special-finish-before-joining-bath
