All Blacks: Carter comes up just short on night of milestones

Dan Carter had an eye on the points record. Photo / Getty Images

Graham Henry notched up his 100th test win as a head coach, and Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina played their 93rd tests, passing Sean Fitzpatrick's mark set in 1997.

So to save the nation's rugby anoraks from blowing a gasket, it was probably just as well McCaw denied Dan Carter the opportunity to kick his way to the world point-scoring record.

In the second half, with the All Blacks nursing a comfortable 15-point lead, McCaw ignored Carter's exhortations to take the points on offer, opting instead for a series of scrums that threatened without ever breaking the Irish.

Carter missed the last-minute conversion of Kieran Read's second try - his only blemish on the night - leaving him two points below Jonny Wilkinson's record of 1178 points.

"He obviously knew how many points he was on, but I had no idea," McCaw said.

"I wasn't thinking about that, but he said to me afterwards 'gee, if you'd given me that I would have got it [the record]'.

"Oh well, next week," McCaw said, clearly seeing the funny side of it.

"I didn't want to take the spotlight off him and Mils by taking that record tonight," Carter retorted.

The Canterbury first five-eighth, who won his second man-of-the-match award in three tests, scored 18 points from four penalties and three conversions, but reckons at the time he was debating with his captain about the merits of three points, he didn't actually know it would have taken him past England's Wilkinson.

Assuming Carter breaks the record in Cardiff, Wilkinson will likely get the opportunity to retake the lead during the Six Nations, should he be passed fit and judged a better option than incumbent Toby Flood.

"The difference between 15 and 18-point lead did not change a lot, so I wanted to put the pressure on. But I understand now why he was asking me if he could have a shot," McCaw said.

For sentimental reasons alone, it was fitting that the focus should remain on McCaw and Muliaina, great servants for New Zealand rugby who, free of the shadow of Fitzpatrick, can set sail for 100 caps next year.

"It's a very special day for them but they're more than rugby players, they're outstanding young men who are inspirational for the country," gushed Henry.

The coach's milestone did not go unnoticed either.

If anything his is the most remarkable record, if only for the fact his wins total is so far ahead of his nearest challenger, France's Bernard Laporte (62).

Top test points scorers

* 1178 (x) Jonny Wilkinson (England/Lions)
* 1176 (x) Dan Carter (NZ)
* 1090 Neil Jenkins (Wales/Lions)
* 1010 Diego Dominguez (Italy, Argentina)
* 980 (x) Ronan O'Gara (Ireland)
* 967 Andrew Mehrtens (NZ)
* 911 Michael Lynagh (Australia)
* 893 Percy Montgomery (SA)
* 892 (x) Stephen Jones (Wales/Lions)
* 878 Matthew Burke (Australia)

(x denotes still playing)