With Dan Carter leaving New Zealand rugby, we look back at some of his moments playing both nationally and internationally.

Barry John, long regarded as "The King" of first-fives, has handed his crown to departing All Blacks star Dan Carter.

The Welsh Wizard who tormented the All Blacks during the British & Irish Lions' 1971 tour of New Zealand, labelled Carter as "easily the best natural rugby footballer on the planet".

"I would feel it a great honour just to be mentioned in the same category as Dan the Man. He really has proven to be a very special sportsman over the past decade or so," John wrote in his latest column for WalesOnline.

Mark Tantrum/ Getty Images All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter meets Prince Charles outside Parliament ahead of the Wellington Rugby World Cup parade.

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John said comparing players from different times was difficult, but he believed Carter had a game "for all eras".

With his sidestep and running game, John was known as a flair No 10 who was also a lethal kicker.

1 of 13 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Dan Carter on cloud nine as the All Blacks celebrate winning the Rugby World Cup final. 2 of 13 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Getting to know the Webb Ellis Cup. 3 of 13 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Joining Richie McCaw for the presentation of the Webb Ellis Cup. 4 of 13 TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS A hug from (Prince) Harry. 5 of 13 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES The final whistle. 6 of 13 GETTY IMAGES The cheeky 'right foot' penalty. 7 of 13 STU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES It wasn't just about his kicking game, Carter made 11 tackles as well. Here he takes on Kurtley Beale. 8 of 13 DAN MULLAN/GETTY IMAGES 'THAT' drop goal 9 of 13 PAUL GILHAM/GETTY IMAGES It wasn't all plain sailing. 10 of 13 DAN SHERIDAN Sekope Kepu tries to bring Carter down. 11 of 13 DAVID ROGERS/GETTY IMAGES Carter scored 19 points on the way to the 34-17 victory over the Wallabie. 12 of 13 PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Joining Conrad Smith and Kieran Read for the national anthems. 13 of 13 PAUL CHILDS/REUTERS Warming up before the game.

He often wondered if he could play in the current environment. He would love the opportunity to contest a World Cup and the associated riches of the professional era, but the man who hung up his boots in 1972 at the age of 27 didn't believe his defensive skills would stand the current environment.

"Carter, on the other hand, undoubtedly possesses the skill-set which would have enabled him to go back in time and stand out as a player of the past. In other words, he is a man for every era," John wrote.

"I love the way he takes on his opposite number, drops a shoulder, dinks out a pass, creates space for his team-mates. We see so little of that in modern rugby when it is by and large crash, bang, wallop.

1 of 18 MAARTEN HOLL / DOMINION POST Carter in a Tri Nations match-up against South Africa back in 2006 at Westpac stadium, Wellington. 2 of 18 PETER MEECHAM Carter gets hit hard by French second five eighth Yannick Jauzion during the second test against France in Paris in 2006. 3 of 18 LAURENCE SMITH / SUNDAY NEWS Carter scores a try against England in the INVECO series at Eden Park in 2008. 4 of 18 LAWRENCE SMITH / SUNDAY NEWS Dan Carter and Richie McCaw celebrate the All Blacks' victory against England in the IVECO series at Eden Park, Auckland in 2008. 5 of 18 LAWRENCE SMITH / SUNDAY TIMES Carter takes a hit in a game against South Africa in the 2010 Tri Nations series at Wellington's Westpac Stadium. 6 of 18 PETER MEECHAM Carter cuts through the defence to set up Israel Dagg for a try during the France vs New Zealand Rugby world Cup match at Eden Park in 2011. 7 of 18 PETER MEECHAM Carter during the France vs New Zealand match at Eden Park, Auckland, during the Rugby World Cup 2011. 8 of 18 PETER MEECHAM / FAIRFAX NZ Carter celebrates the All Blacks' 2011 Rugby World cup victory alongside Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw. 9 of 18 JOHN SELKIRK Carter on the charge against the Wallabies in 2nd Bledisloe and Investec Cup match in 2012. 10 of 18 GALLO IMAGES Carter converts a penalty kick during the Rugby Championship match against the Springboks in 2012 in Johannesburg. 11 of 18 CAMERON SPENCER / GETTY IMAGES Carter and Richie McCaw perform the Haka during the Bledisloe Cup match against the Australian Wallabies in 2012. 12 of 18 PHIL WALTER / GETTY IMAGES Carter kicks a conversion during the International Test Match between the United States of America and the All Blacks in 2014. 13 of 18 PHIL WALTER / GETTY IMAGES Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter celebrate winning the Bledisloe Cup in 2015. 14 of 18 JAN KRUGER / GETTY IMAGES Dan Carter gives Richie McCaw stick for his "performance" as a water boy in this year's Rugby World Cup. 15 of 18 PAUL GILHAM / GETTY IMAGES Dan Carter against the South Africans in 2015 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match at Twickenham Stadium. 16 of 18 INPHO/DAN SHERIDAN Carter battles it out with Sekope Kepu of Australia in the Rugby World Cup final 2015. 17 of 18 LAURENCE GRIFFITHS / GETTY IMAGES Carter kicks a drop goal to put his side 24-17 ahead during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match against Australia. 18 of 18 PHOTOSPORT Dan Carter with the Webb Ellis Trophy as they celebrate winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

"The modern game is totally about possession and position, and Carter is the perfect man to get his forwards on the front foot.

"But what stands him out from his fly-half peers is that he also possesses an awareness and vision to exploit a gap and take advantage of sudden chinks in the opposition defensive armour."

John said Carter made everything look easy with his extra time to dictate and that was the hallmark of a great player

"Seeing Carter strut around that hugely impressive New Zealand pack is like watching an artist at work at his easel. So easy on the eye, so much to marvel at."

John certainly marvelled at Carter's defensive work and had no doubt that the New Zealander was the best No 10 of his generation, placing him ahead of Jonny Wilkinson, his main rival for that honour.,

"The best in history? Everyone will have their own views, I guess," John wrote

"But what we can say is that Dan the Man bowed out with a swagger.

"He had the last kick of the World Cup, the last kick of his international career. He took it right his right foot ... and it sailed straight through the middle of the posts.

"That's what you call style."

The completed Carter's world record 1598 points haul from 112 tests.

Carter launches his biography this weekend and will then head to Paris to take up a contract with French club Racing 92.