All Black Dan Carter is expected to be fit for Welsh Test
New Zealand expects out-half Dan Carter to be fit to take his place in the team ahead of the All Blacks Test with Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 27 November.
Carter picked up an injury to his ankle after the All Blacks' convincing 38-18 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 20 November.
The out-half did not train with New Zealand on Tuesday and the coaching staff are monitoring the player’s fitness.
However, the slight sprain to Carter’s ankle is not expected to keep the player out of the team, as they prepare to face Wales in a match that will see the All Blacks claim their third Grand Slam in six years over the home nations, if they win.
If Carter is passed fit to play, the match is likely to be another milestone achievement for the out-half. Currently, Carter is only two points behind England out-half Jonny Wilkinson, who remains the world’s leading point’s scorer with 1,178 Test points.
New Zealand are strong favourites to beat Wales and record a Grand Slam this weekend, while Carter is expected to break Jonny Wilkinson’s record against Wales.
The player made his debut against the Welsh and almost broke the record against Ireland with an 18-point haul in their victory. The player will feel that it is appropriate to surpass the points-scoring record against the team he faced in his first international
match.
Carter has been instrumental in all of the All Blacks Autumn Internationals so far and the player will expect to put in another man-of-the-match performance, after starring in the win over Ireland.
Wales will know the odds are stacked against them. New Zealand are expected to field a strong team and apart from a slight concern over Carter’s ankle, they have no new injury concerns.
They will also welcome back suspended hooker Keven Mealamu who is sure to boost their line-out and front row.
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