The All Blacks star fly half missed the 82-8 Pool C win against Romania in Toulouse due to injury and despite being named in Graham Henry’s 22, Carter remains a fitness doubt. But Carter tested his calf in a training run yesterday afternoon and expects to line up in Cardiff on Saturday night.
“The calf is good. We have a couple of runs before Saturday to make it right,” said Carter speaking before his fitness run. “This will be my first big test and I’m confident that it will show progress.
“Earlier in the week I couldn’t walk on it but that has gone now and I’ve done a lot of work with Deborah Robinson (Doctor) and George Duncan (Muscle Therapist) and the injury has responded well to it.
“If it was the World Cup final I would have prepared in exactly the same way. I’m not even thinking beyond this weekend’s match. I just felt the calf was tight and it was frustrating because I was ready to play against Romania. But I can’t dwell on the injury and must move on. I have to get focussed on this match and I’ve tried to be in the best shape possible. The injury is out of my control now.
“The injury has been frustrating but I have prepared well as I can and know the gameplan so hopefully the next few days go well. I’ll get a good feeling of it this afternoon and in the captain’s run. We will have a better idea of how I feel then. Obviously it’s the way they want to play the game. That’s good for us. We have a great back three so we hope they will kick to them.
“The French pride themselves on their line-out and will use short and long kicks. They have good long kickers and will hope to bring their line-out into play. If they do keep kicking to out back three we will run the ball. We have no fear and will back our instincts. We will put them under pressure. Both sides have strong runners but we have to limit their attacking space. If they do kick, we have to get back and help in numbers and get behind the ball.
“I think France have really improved since the Argentina match and have shown their capabilities. We know that if they get it right they can score tries and beat anyone on their day. It’s tough to prepare to play France because you don’t know what to expect. When they are hot they’re a tough team to play against. They still have a bit of attacking flair. I’ve been reasonably happy with my performances but there’s room for improvement. I’ve only played two matches so this is the game I’ve prepared myself for. I want to step my game up this weekend.”
While Carter was assured of his starting place, wing Joe Rokocoko admits he was left sweating before he made the All Blacks first XV. And now Rokocoko cannot wait to repay Coach Graham Henry’s selection and take New Zealand into the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
“I was one of those guys who was nervous before the announcement for the 22 to play in the quarter-final. I was ready to understand the situation if I wasn’t selected.
“I know that we have two other class wingers and I was more focussed on supporting the team. Everyone in the team will get a medal. I’m just pleased to be playing. Whether I play on the left or the right wing doesn’t matter to me. It’s a challenge. It’s only different in defence and the set-pieces, I still know what to do.
“I have been lucky against the French in the past. I’ve just been in the right place at the right time to score the tries and I hope to do it again this weekend. The back three the French have are good kickers and we know if we make mistakes they will punish us. We can’t afford to do that. We are very aware of their game.
“We need to make sure we are in the game from the first minute. We have spoken this week about playing the game we want to play. The French will rise to the occasion but we have to not switch our gameplan. We lost the game to Australia in Melbourne because we didn’t play our game in the last 10 minutes.
“We don’t worry about one player (Carter’s injury). He’s a great player but we’ve got fantastic confidence in anyone who comes into this team. Even if Dan cannot play, Nick Evans will come in and he’s been outstanding in this World Cup.
“That’s the key to our rotation policy in the last 2-3 years and any player who has played can come into the side and feel comfortable with those who are already playing.”
New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (Capt), So’oialo
Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava
France: Traille, Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Heymans, Beauxis, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez (Capt), De Villiers, Pelous, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire
Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Chabal, Harinordoquy, Michalak, Dominici, Poitrenaud
