Carter ready for Bok attack

All Black Dan Carter skips away from Springbok Breyton Paulse during the test in Wellington in July. PIcture / Reuters

PRETORIA, South Africa - If the Springboks think attacking Daniel Carter may tweak the All Blacks' resistance, the five-eighths has an uncomplicated message about tomorrow's test.

Let them try, bring it on, not a problem - would cover his response as the international player of the year looks to guide Graham Henry's All Blacks to their first win in three years in South Africa.

Carter may look slight in a sport inhabited by muscular athletes.

But his 91kg frame is very well put together, his tackling technique is sound and he carries plenty of power as Stephen Larkham discovered last week when Carter jolted the ball loose for the try which turned the Eden Park test.

First five-eighths and defence have not always been a comfortable fit in the All Blacks but Carter has changed that as much as he has set new standards for those in the black No 10 jersey.

Mr Unflappable loves tackling as much as the other areas of the game.

"I made about 16 or 17 tackles against the Wallabies which is pretty high but that is part of the game I enjoy and while it does take it out of you a little bit we have got the right people to get you right," he said.

The Wallabies tried to take Richie McCaw out of the game but lost the test and Carter explained he did not worry if the Boks saw that as a method to rattle him at Loftus Versfeld.

"I don't really see it as a fear. Obviously it might happen but if they do target an individual then it offers scope elsewhere for my teammates," was a statement which echoed McCaw's view last week.

"Sometimes early on in a game teams might put a late hit on you or try and put you off your game but it is all about how you bounce back and cope with that. You don't read too much into it and continue with your game."

This week Springbok coach Jake White suggested the way to stop Carter was to use an attacking five-eighths and he believed Butch James had those qualities.

There was a nod from Carter who will play his 30th test tomorrow. James was a physical player who liked to take the ball to the line and was also confident of guarding the inside defensive channels against the All Blacks.

Carter, McCaw, Mils Muliaina, Leon MacDonald, Rodney So'oialo, Chris Jack, Keven Mealamu and the injured Carl Hayman have been the All Blacks' core this season, the spine for the seven straight victories.

Half of that nucleus have been rested this week but Carter feels no more or less pressure to deliver against the Springboks.

"Mainly because we have played together with the other guys at times," he said.

"With lots of chopping and changing, they bring the enthusiasm and it is up to us to sort of steady them and go out there and play our game and encourage them to do the same."

There were no signs, other than the effects of long-distance travel, for Carter that his body was suffering this season.

"Internationally, you want to be playing every game and the way the season is structured you can play every game and get plenty of rest with the bye weeks. I have not found it a problem.

"My body is fine you know, it was an extremely tough last game and the body is pretty sore afterwards until midweek, but I have had no serious injuries. My body is in good nick."

There was relief for the All Blacks they had retained the Tri-Nations title but that did not mean their attitude had changed for the final two tests at altitude in South Africa. Victory was the yardstick for those matches.

"We know how good the Boks are at home, how passionate their crowds are in Pretoria and it has hurt that we have not managed to win in South Africa in the last two years."

New Zealand v South Africa
Pretoria, 1am tomorrow

New Zealand
Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Piri Weepu, Chris Masoe, Richie McCaw (c), Reuben Thorne, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver, Neemia Tialata Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Chris Jack, Jerry Collins, Jimmy Cowan, Sam Tuitupou, Isaia Toeava.

South Africa
P. Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Jacques Cronje, Joe van Niekerk, Solly Tyibilika, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (c), Os du Randt.
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Albert van den Berg, Pierre Spies, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius.

All Blacks v Springboks

* Played 68
New Zealand: won 37
South Africa: won 28
Drawn: 3

* Last five matches
July 2006 (Wellington)
New Zealand 35 South Africa 17
August 2005 (Dunedin)
New Zealand 31 South Africa 27
August 2005 (Cape Town)
South Africa 22 New Zealand 16
August 2004 (Johannesburg)
South Africa 40 New Zealand 26
July 2004 (Christchurch)
New Zealand 23 South Africa 21

* At Pretoria
July 2003
New Zealand 52 South Africa 16
August 1999
New Zealand 34 South Africa 18
August 1996
New Zealand 33 South Africa 26
July 1970
South Africa 17 New Zealand 6

* Most points
New Zealand: Andrew Mehrtens 209S
outh Africa: Percy Montgomery 83

* Most tries
New Zealand: Christian Cullen 10
South Africa: Joost van der Westhuizen 6