Carter ready to face Wales

Euan Megson

• Last Updated: November 06. 2009 9:44PM UAE / November 6. 2009 5:44PM GMT

He may be a pre-match fitness doubt, but New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter is expecting to turn out against Wales today, and help extend the All Blacks’ 56-year winning streak over their hapless northern hemisphere opponents.

Carter, who suffered a calf muscle haematoma in last week’s Bledisloe Cup win over Australia in Tokyo, is anxious to add to the 92 points he has amassed in five games against Wales; the goal-kicking king needs only 15 points to move past Andrew Mehrtens as New Zealand’s all-time highest international scorer on 967 points.

“I am feeling confident,” said Carter. “I have been managing it all week and only done light training. We will see how it is [before the game]. Milestones are not why I play the game, but if I do get there, it will be pretty good. I want to get stuck in and not hold back. Wales are a strong team — I’ve never had an easy game against them.

“They have some exciting runners and some strong ball-carriers — we will need to match them and get our game going.”

Wales, meanwhile, are optimistic ahead of their latest chance to rectify half a century of hurt against New Zealand.

“It’s a big opportunity,” said lock Alun-Wyn Jones, citing lessons from this corresponding fixture last November, when Wales went into the break with a 9-6 lead before New Zealand eventually ran out 29-9 winners.

“Sometimes as a nation, or a group of players, we can fear being in front or being so close in games. It’s a fear of winning. We’ve been there before against them. We know we can do it for 40 or 45 minutes – it’s now about doing it for 80 minutes.”

While the Welsh will be missing British & Irish Lions trio Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne and Adam Jones, 6ft 9in Newport Gwent colossus Luke Charteris is set to challenge a vulnerable looking All Blacks line-out.

emegson@thenational.ae