Warren Gatland’s men travel to Carisbrook looking for a first-ever win on New Zealand soil on the back of an agonizing defeat to South Africa last time out.
And having narrowly failed to topple the World Champions, Dan Carter believes Wales will be keen to show their global credentials by beating the world’s top-ranked team.
“The Welsh are always tough competition and they will come here with a point to prove. I’m sure it will be a challenge for us,” said Carter, after he inspired the All Blacks to a scintillating 60-point thrashing of Ireland on Saturday.
Worryingly for Wales, Carter believes that New Zealand are still far from their best despite scoring nine tries against the 2009 Grand Slam winners in New Plymouth.
Widely regarded as one of the game’s leading lights, Carter is convinced there is more to come from his team. “I think we have a few gears still to move into,” added Carter.
“We have generally been slow starters in the past and we wanted to change that. We have started the season well which we put a lot of emphasis on this year but we have let in four tries and that is not good enough. We’re disappointed and slackened off a bit. We have to improve.”
The All Blacks superstar notched up another milestone by surpassing 1,000 points in international rugby against 14-men Ireland.
Carter became only the fourth player to achieve the feat in the 66-28 drubbing and joins an exclusive club featuring Welsh legend Neil Jenkins, Jonny Wilkinson and Diego Dominguez..
The Crusaders playmaker scored 17 points in an immaculate eight-out-of-eight kicking display at the Yarrow Stadium which included seven conversions and a penalty.
“It’s fantastic and an achievement I am really proud of. I have worked hard on my kicking and I was really happy with the way I played and the way I was striking the ball. But I hope I can still improve and there are still more points to come my way.”
