Carter admits to 'rushing'

It is hard to imagine the laconic Daniel Carter rushing anything. But he is, or at least he reckons he might be, rushing his goal-kicking.

That is why he was tugging the ball to the right and that is why the smoothest action in the world game landed only five out of eight pots at goal last night.

"I'll have to have a look at it," said Carter about his goal-kicking. "I'll definitely be out there practising, trying to put it right.

"I might be rushing a little bit."

The figures don't sit well with a player who can probably call himself the best first five in the world.

There were plenty hoping that he could drop the probably after last night but his first test encounter against the ethereal Stephen Larkham failed to spark.

Carter was happy to let Aaron Mauger call the plays and control the game while Larkham never really had a chance playing behind a pack that was being smoked like a kipper.

That scenario failed to deliver an outcome as to who is the king of pivots but it did confirm that Mauger is without peer in the No 12 jersey.

He'll never be able to shake the tag of being defensively frail but whether that is a perceived or real weakness is of little importance.

What is important is that Mauger makes a colossal offensive contribution and is the man who gives the attack width. He is the man who knows when to run tight and when to go to the flanks.

He is also, according to the players and assistant coach Wayne Smith, a brilliant communicator. Mils Muliaina said his first outing in the All Black No 13 shirt would have been a difficult night had it not been for Mauger.

"I was a little bit tense at first," said Muliaina. "I got a bit lost at times and I didn't have too much to do in the first half. But Aaron was talking to me all the time and I started to relax in the second half and Aaron was brilliant. He called the shots and he is a guy I love running off. I definitely enjoyed my time at centre and now that I have had a taste of it, I suppose I would like some more."

He's a pretty safe bet to get some more time in the role and Mauger will definitely be fielded inside him.