New Zealand coy over Carter

AFP ©

CARDIFF (AFP) - Star fly-half Dan Carter could have the chance to become the All Blacks' record international points scorer on Saturday after being named in the team to play Wales here at the Millennium Stadium.

Carter suffered a calf muscle injury during New Zealand's 32-19 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia in Tokyo last Saturday.

But he was included in the team announced on Wednesday by All Blacks coach Graham Henry despite not training earlier in the day. However, Stephen Donald is ready to come in if Carter does not recover in time.

Carter needs just 16 more points to overhaul Andrew Mehrtens's New Zealand Test record of 967.

If he achieves the feat against Wales, Carter will have got there in six fewer Tests than former outside-half Mehrtens - 64 to 70.

And Carter has an especially fine record against Wales, with 92 points in five previous Tests.

"We are managing him through the week and we are hopeful he will be right for Saturday," said Henry. "We will just keep on communicating and see how he is. If he is not right, Stephen Donald will play."

Former Wales coach Henry made six changes to last weekend's starting XV.

Zac Guildford, the 20-year-old wing, is set for a Test debut in place of Sitiveni Sivivatu, ruled out of the Wales match after receiving a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle against Australia in Tokyo.

Elsewhere Brendon Leonard comes off the bench to play scrum-half in a swop with Jimmy Cowan while up front prop Wyatt Crockett replaced Tony Woodcock, suspended for striking Wallaby flanker George Smith in Japan.

In the back-row, Kieran Read takes over at No 8 from Rodney So'oialo, flanker Jerome Kaino comes in for Adam Thomson and Jason Eaton replaces Tom Donnelly in the second row.

New Zealand have not lost to Wales since 1953, a run of 20 straight Test wins and a sequence which suggested Henry was well within his rights to make six changes.

But he was keen to stress his selection implied no disrespect to Wales but was part of the process of finding out about promising players' Test credentials ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

"We need to know if all these players are up to international standard," Henry explained. "We are using this game to address one or two of those question marks. It's a big game.

"There is no disrespect to Wales - it's a very strong side. We picked a side to play against Australia, and we've picked a side to play against Wales."

New Zealand team to play Wales at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday (1715GMT):

(15-1):

Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Brendon Leonard; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Jason Eaton, Brad Thorn; Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ben Smith