KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - The King has abdicated, long live Daniel Carter.
Former Wales and Lions rugby wizard Barry John, who was known as "The King" in his condensed time at the top, has anointed Carter as the monarch of the modern era.
He says there's no doubt Carter has
taken the game to a new level and is without peer on the current rugby stage. Comparisons with himself are for others to determine.
"I think his tackling is better than mine for a start," John said in a Wales on Sunday interview.
"But he is a class act, this boy. He is already, as far as I am concerned, qualified for entry into the Rugby Union World Hall of Fame.
"He is an amazing talent and has an all-round game."
John was himself inducted into the first International Rugby Hall of Fame for his deeds in 25 tests for Wales, and with the Lions when they beat the All Blacks in the 1971 series in New Zealand.
The slim five-eighths tormented fullback Fergie McCormick so much with his tactical kicking in the first test of that series that McCormick never played for the All Blacks again.
John said he had been taken by the dedicated style Jonny Wilkinson brought to England and hoped the player would return to test rugby after an extraordinary run of bad luck with injury.
"But that Daniel Carter, he is a more rounded player than Wilkinson, he can run both left and right, his movement is lovely, he can spot the gap, he lays off the ball beautifully and his option-taking is nearly faultless."
Asked whether Carter was as good as he was in his heyday, John dodged the question with the dexterity he had in New Zealand in 1971. But his hazy answer indicated Carter was on another level.
"Certain parts of his game weren't in my book anyway," said John. "He is top-class. He must have a Welsh connection somewhere."
John still talks warmly about his time in New Zealand, how he was adopted by Auckland Grammar during that tour and how much he loved the country, the music and the people.
"The country is green and agricultural and we [Wales and NZ] have so much in common, but the umbilical cord between us is rugby.
"If you prove yourself out there you will be remembered forever," he said.
The secret to beating the All Blacks was being combative for the entire match - in boxing parlance, going the full 15 rounds.
Concentration had to be impeccable and the unforced error ratio had to be way down.
John said the All Blacks would be favourites this weekend and for the next World Cup.
They had a habit of slipping up in the playoffs since the 1987 triumph but John was sure coaches Graham Henry and Steve Hansen would not let those mistakes recur next year.
Playing the All Blacks was the jewel in the crown for Wales, who have beaten Australia, the Pacific Islanders and Canada as a prelude to Sunday's test in Cardiff.
"Wales are as strong as I've known for some time," said John.
They were experienced and were finally coming to terms with what professional rugby meant; they had built on the regional team competition.
Stephen Jones was an excellent captain, he was unflappable and calm, which was an essential trait at test level. His fitness was crucial for Wales' success.
John said Wales might not get any players in a World XV but they would be extremely competitive this weekend.
"We are in with a shout against them [All Blacks] even though they are very, very good."
