I will get better, says classy Carter

NEW ZEALAND outside-half Dan Carter has sent a stark warning to Wales and the three other home nations that he is not yet the finished article.

The talented number 10 is remembered for a stellar showing in the 48-18 demolition of the Lions in the second Test at Wellington last July.

Carter supplied 33 points, including two tries, as the Lions conceded more than 40 for the first time in a Test. The 23-year-old is now looking to up the ante from that fateful day in July, which gave the All Blacks the series, and is not prepared to rest on his laurels.

"I'm always looking to improve my game. It was pretty tough to do after that game against the Lions. That was pretty special. But I'm working hard on my game, so I can still keep improving."

Though he is considered the best New Zealand have produced since Grant Fox and Andrew Mehrtens wore the number 10 jersey, Carter insists there are aspects of his game which need to be improved.

"Vision is something that I have to work on, and smaller things like passing accuracy which you can always improve on."

Carter knows it will be a hard tour and believes Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland will all be out for revenge after the Lions defeat in the summer.

"It will be tough after the Lions. We are coming up against four individual nations with a lot to prove. I'm sure each country will want to put one over on the All Blacks so every game is going to be tough. They will be motivated to get a result. It won't be a walk in the park, that's for sure," Carter added.

But the All Blacks, who many believe will be capable of sealing their first British and Irish Grand Slam since 1978, are ready for anything the four sides are likely to throw at them.

"We have made it a mission of ours to come here and rally as a team. We are here to develop as a team and if we do that I think the results will take care of themselves."

Wales boss Mike Ruddock. meanwhile, has hailed his All Blacks counterpart Graham Henry as "probably the world's best coach."

But Ruddock, whose team are bidding to end a 52-year losing sequence against the Tri-Nations champions, has also dismissed Henry's mind-games ahead of the Millennium Stadium showdown.

There are plenty of rookies among the 35-man squad, including prop John Afoa, his Auckland colleague Isaia Toeava and Taranaki lock Jason Eaton, while two more prop Neemia Tialata and flanker Chris Masoe make their Test debuts.

Ruddock though, has dismissed Henry's development theory and believes the All Blacks have only one real mission this month four straight wins.

"I don't believe a word of it," said a smiling Ruddock, whose players are chasing a ninth successive victory since New Zealand beat them 26-25 in Cardiff last November.

"I've got a huge regard for Graham. He is a brilliant coach, he did a great job when he was in Wales and he's probably the best coach in the world.

"He's obviously the master of making sure what he puts out there what he thinks needs to be discussed but internally, I am sure he will be sending a different message to the players."

Tomorrow's clash will mark 100 years of Test matches between Wales and New Zealand.

No-one is expecting a landslide New Zealand triumph, but Wales will have their work cut out, especially given the absence of six Lions Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin, Dwayne Peel, Gethin Jenkins, Ryan Jones and Martyn Williams to end that losing sequence.