Carter relishing new challenge

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter notches another career milestone at the weekend, albeit unrelated to his points scoring feats – he will be playing his first Test match against Ireland.

All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter notches another career milestone at the weekend, albeit unrelated to his points scoring feats – he will be playing his first Test match against Ireland.

Not only will it be Carter's first match against the Irish, it's also the first time the All Blacks have played since last year's quarter-final exit to France at the Rugby World Cup.

And the star pivot said everyone was keen to move on from their World Cup failure.

“A lot of this team weren't part of that disappointment so they will be coming in here looking to stake a claim and trying to cement their position in the team,” said Carter.

“We've all played a lot of rugby since then and it is well in the background now.”

The 26-year-old, who has 44 Test caps to his name, was looking forward to pitting himself against Ronan O'Gara, who arrived in New Zealand on the back of Munster's Heineken Cup success.

The visitors, searching for their first win over the All Blacks, have an experienced side, and Carter is expecting O'Gara to direct the Irish assault on history as they attempt to do what has escaped the men from the Emerald Isle so far.

“Ronan has played well this season. He is an extremely experienced player and will lead the team around well,” he said.

“They are reasonably experienced and have some campaigners there that know how to play Test match football.

“Ronan will direct them – he has a good kicking game – to play in the right area of the field and they will try to match us up front.

“So there are a few things that we expect and we have to be right on top of our game if we're going to do well.”

Carter was happy with how his own form was shaping after recovering from an injury during the later stages of the Super 14 round-robin.

“I feel like I am getting there. I love big occasions. I love the pressure and things like that,” he said.

“I've really enjoyed the last couple of weeks with the Crusaders and now moving into Test match footie, it doesn't get any bigger stage than representing your country.

“I think there is still room for improvement but I feel I am progressing in the right direction which is good.”

Meanwhile, Carter doesn't expect any special treatment from the national selectors when he might return from his overseas sabbatical.

Carter said in Wellington on Wednesday while preparing for the All Blacks' opening international of the year, that he was close to confirming his decision about whether he would play in France but there were some aspects of his agreement still being sorted with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU).

“It has been tough, it's a decision I have been thinking about for a while,” he said.

He had considered all his options and he had reached the stage where he was keen to re-sign with New Zealand. Negotiations were still being undertaken with the NZRU but as far as he was concerned they were extremely positive, he said.

Carter confirmed that Toulon was one of the clubs he was looking at but he preferred to stay quiet on the other one until he had made his decision.

He said he would be making contact with former All Blacks captain, and Toulon coach, Tana Umaga to talk about the French clubs in order to have as much information as he could before making a decision.

Carter repeated that he would like to make a decision in the next few weeks, “sooner rather than later”.

It would be a new situation for selectors and coaches to assess his form before including him in the All Blacks upon his return.

“I don't just expect to be selected for the All Blacks on merit, I would have to be playing well if I was to play overseas so that's just one of things I will have to deal with at the time,” said Carter.

Being allowed to take time out from his NZRU contract was “a bit of a stepping stone” for New Zealand rugby, but he said it also had the advantage of giving everyone a gauge as to how the system worked.

Carter said he didn't know if a longer period than six months in Europe was really on, but he would be testing the waters and getting a gauge on what it was like.

“I love playing here in New Zealand and I love playing the Super 14 so if I was to go over there for the summer it would be tough not playing for the Crusaders but that's just one of those things I've had to deal with,” he said.

Carter confirmed that the delight in playing in the All Blacks jersey was one of the main reasons he was looking to retain his New Zealand options.

“The All Blacks jersey still does hold a lot for me and there are certain challenges that I want to achieve in the next few years,” he said.

“It isn't just going to happen, there's still a lot of hard work ahead of me but I still also get a chance to get a little experience, a little bit of a taste of playing overseas but my commitment would be to stay here in New Zealand.”