Recalled All Black scrum-half Jimmy Cowan has hailed soon-to-be opposite number Will Genia as possessing the same cool style as Daniel Carter.
The duo will collide this Saturday in Melbourne with the Highlanders man starting ahead of new father Piri Weepu. Genia meanwhile is now a shoo-in for Australia after another strong showing last weekend, still with just 13 caps to his name.
But Cowan is refusing to start any mind games or verbal tactics ahead of the All Blacks fixture as he rates the Reds man as one of the world's best.
"Look at the two of us, we're totally different," he joked, speaking to AAP.
"You've seen that through his captaincy in the Super 14. He was pretty sharp in that area.
"He reminds me a lot of Dan Carter when he plays - he's pretty cool, calm and collected when he's playing and you sort of see that in his game too."
Genia scored what is quickly becoming his custom style of try against the Boks, pouncing on some weak fringe defence. But what has made his form that bit more impressive is that he's back from a broken hand that he picked up during the latter stages of the Super 14.
"It's a real testament to his character to come back and play like that, with intensity like that," added Cowan.
"He's just a tough little bugger too."
Such warrior similarities have not just been shown in the Test arena, however, with Genia unbelievably playing on against the Highlanders with strained knee ligament. And Cowan was only too quick to urge his opposite number to leave the field.
"I didn't know that at the time," Cowan said of Genia's injury.
"I kept telling him to get off but he wouldn't get off.
"I rate him very highly and he's just carried on where he left off in the Super 14, hasn't he, sniping and doing what he does best."
