There’s finishing your career in a high and then there’s Tom Carter.
Carter established himself as a Waratahs great throughout his 76-game career, but his best - and most famous - performance came in his last against the British & Irish Lions.
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The current Waratahs Head of Athletic Performance scored a double in the 47-17 defeat to a Lions side that included Johnny Sexton, Leigh Halfpenny and a young Owen Farrell.
It continued the family legacy linked with the Lions, with brother Ed debuting for the Waratahs against the combined side 12 years earlier in 2001.
“I just felt like I knew it was probably my time was coming to an end at the ‘Tahs and I just tried to savour every moment,” he recalled to Rugby.com.au.
“There was an amazing atmosphere, and one of those times, you pinch yourself moments, where you look back on it and you're pretty incredibly proud, and you talk to your kids about it, and you know, your family.”
Carter never lacked confidence and the former Sydney Uni star was never going to shy away from matching up with Wales and Lions legends Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies.
He was in the right place to back up a Peter Betham break for his first, racing away from the cover defence to get the Waratahs on the board.
The second was more special as his final touch as a professional, running the crash ball line to dive over before being subbed off the field.
“I ran about three metres per second for the first one, which is good because obviously I'm an athletic performer, so I try and pretend that I know what I'm talking about with speed, and the group puts lots of niggle on me around that,” Carter joked.
“The last touch was the offload over Johnny Sexton from Will Skelton [was the second], and then that was my last touch ever for the Tahs.
“I just remember standing on the 22 after the game, just thinking about the enormity of, I suppose, the end of a career at the Waratahs, but also what a special opportunity and ending to remember and finish on.”
Carter relished the chance to go against the best, proud of leaving it all out on the field.
“I wasn't good enough and fortunate enough to play Test football, and it was just something I always wanted to do, was to go against the very best of the best and challenge yourself,” he said.
“I still think I probably missed a tackle or two, and probably could have been better that night, but obviously to get across the try line a couple of times is something very memorable and something I look back on for sure.”
Carter and the Waratahs coaching staff are now imparting their own wisdom on the group ahead of a titanic hurdle to overcome on Saturday.
“I was fortunate enough to be involved in the last two Olympic campaigns with the Sevens girls. The Olympics come once every four years, or three years obviously, post-COVID, but the Lions come every 12 years so it’s an incredible opportunity,” he added.
“I think it's going to be a really pivotal moment in Australian rugby. I think it's a really massive opportunity for us to reset and grow the game, and hopefully the start of a golden era for us again.
