Carter excited to play at Millenium stadium

“We have all had a run in the first two games so there are no excuses for not being ready to go”, he said ahead of clash at the Millennium Stadium.

Blessed with a tough set of forwards, Georgia rarely budge from 10-man rugby – despite the team’s Kiwi coach, Milton Haig, trying to adapt the philosophy since taking charge in 2011.

New Zealand asked for the windows at their city centre hotel in Cardiff to be soundproofed after being kept awake on Saturday evening by roisterous Wales supporters but it is the Georgia players who should be having sleepless nights before Friday night’s meeting with the holders at the Millennium Stadium.

New Zealand and Georgia have never played against each other. A big New Zealand win.

Carter was not on the field at the conclusion of that match after picking up an injury, and he has insisted that returning to Cardiff is something he does not dread, but rather looks forward to. “This is our third game in the World Cup and that means you should have an edge regardless of who the opposition is”.

The All Blacks will want to be more direct up front against a big Georgia pack and cut out the mistakes that plagued them against Namibia at London’s Olympic Stadium.

“We’ve got five days after the All Blacks game before we play Namibia which is very important to achieve our goal of qualifying for 2019, so it’s a necessary evil that our focus is on the Namibia game”.

The All Blacks are expecting their third match to be particularly physical. Now the top try-scorer in the Super 15 gets to test himself in the Welsh cauldron. He sustained a hairline fracture to his fibula 50 minutes into his debut for New Zealand on July 17 against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.

Traditional herbal treatment in Fiji sped up his recovery and the challenge is for the Highlanders wing to prove that he can make an impact for the defending champions.

In the last World Cup, the All Blacks lost Carter and Slade during the tournament, Aaron Cruden limped off during the final and fourth-string pivot Stephen Donald came on to kick the winning penalty in the 8-7 victory over France.

With Gordodze listed to wear the seven jersey on Friday it will put fly-half Dan Carter directly in his sights and he will be looking to McCaw, Read and Jerome Kaino to provide cover.

“But he is an awesome player and being able to see what he’s been capable of in the first couple of games, he’s a real weapon in their side”.