The New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue believes Dan Carter's lucrative new contract was money well spent by the New Zealand Rugby Union.
"He had to be kept in New Zealand rugby, even if the lack of evenhandedness in the NZRU's treatment of players sticks in the craw on a number of levels.
"The union plays favourites with a golden few without offering any degree of flexibility to other players, many of whom have been faithful servants - to use the old parlance - to the game.
"By controlling every last cent of the player contract money, the NZRU also denies individual franchises the chance to do innovative deals that suit them rather than the almighty overlords. This central office dictatorship has squashed the tribalism out of New Zealand rugby, diluting the very emotions vital to making sport meaningful in the first place. Maybe that is why the grandstands are often near empty.
"Okay, so the NZRU did what they had to do under the current circumstances. But the circumstances are at least partly of their own making. And special deals to keep Carter and Richie McCaw allow the strong to get stronger while franchises with players not deemed upper class get no extra help to retain anyone they prize."
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