All Blacks golden boy Carter predicts intense Lions battle

ALL BLACKS golden boy Dan Carter predicted an intense battle for Test series glory against Clive Woodward’s Lions.

Many pundits, including former New Zealand coach Laurie Mains, have forecast a 3-0 All Blacks triumph, writing off a Lions squad currently nowhere near top gear.

But Canterbury fly-half Carter, who will face the Lions on his home ground this weekend, has dismissed such patriotic fervour.

“It is going to be probably the biggest challenge the All Blacks have faced,” he said.

“We are coming up against an extremely strong side, and we will just go out there and try and play how we want to play, and if we do that well, then hopefully the results will take care of themselves.

“You can’t sit there and see how they’ve played over the past few years - you can only really look at the games they have played on tour, and even then, you can’t take too much from those.”

Carter, a deadly kicker in the Jonny Wilkinson mould, has taken less than two years to establish himself as one of world rugby’s hottest properties - on and off the field.

The 23-year-old with the film-star looks attracts attention everywhere he goes these days, and is rated as a potential All Blacks match-winner, eclipsing his perceived opposite number Wilkinson.

Wilkinson is likely to start at inside centre rather than fly-half on Saturday, but Carter remains far more caught up in his own team than anything the opposition might attempt.

“I am not sure where he [Wilkinson] will play,” added Carter.

“We will have to wait and see, but everyone knows what he can do in defence and attack - he’s a strong guy who loves the confrontation.

“Our main focus is on us. Training is about what we want to do and what we want to get out of the game.

“We would have liked longer together, but the way it has worked out, we haven’t had a chance with the Super 12 going along. But the time we’ve had together - three or four weeks now - we’ve covered a lot.

“I think the Lions have made big steps. It is always going to be tough, with changing players for each game, but there has been an improvement in the way they’ve played.

“Personally, I would just be happy with a win. I don’t really care how we do it, just as long as we come out with the victory.

“We will try and get all the boys involved nice and early, so they can get their hands on the ball.”