The Dan and Jonny show set to take off

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As Judge Jeff Blackett pondered Dan Carter's errant Cardiff tackle at the start of this week, the IRB's London judicial officer held at the tip of his gavel the ability to deny the rugby world the matchup that circumstance has cursed, but that the purists still thirst for.

Surely the judge's ruling was only ever going to go one way. One week. Next stop Twickers. Need we have all held our collective breaths? In New Zealand. In England. And quite possibly points in between. Need we have fretted that Lady Luck was once again going to rob us of the chance to see the game's most influential No 10s of the modern era pit their skills in the same arena. Paint their respective masterpieces on the same canvas.

Remarkably in the not inconsiderable international careers of New Zealand's Carter - the man considered pound for pound the planet's best rugby player - and England's Jonny Wilkinson, who has resuscitated himself and his game with a transfer to Tana Umaga territory in Toulon, these two driven, gifted and spectacularly effective lethal lefties have gone head-to-head in the No 10 jersey precisely once. Yes, once.

It does not seem possible. Have they not both been around an age? The 27-year-old Carter, in his 64 tests, has met England seven times and the British & Irish Lions twice. Wilkinson, 30, has 71 caps for his country and has crossed paths with the black jersey intermittently.

But look it up. They've gone head to head as No 10s only once before - and that matchup ended in a resounding knockout victory for Carter in Wellington. It was the second test of the controversial 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand (Wilkinson had played inside centre in the opener, an ill-fated experiment from the mad professor, Clive Woodward) and Carter's All Blacks put the Brits (and Irish) to the sword, 48-18. Carter contributed 33 points in one of his defining performances (two tries, five penalties, four conversions and any number of take-the-breath-away moments); Wilkinson had just eight and was pulled with still 20 minutes remaining. It was the night that the baton, held unequivocally by Wilkinson after he had guided England to the 2003 World Cup, passed from the Pom to the Kiwi.

It has stayed in the New Zealander's firm grip pretty much ever since.

And now, thanks to Blackett's lenient ruling, we seem set to finally see these two "perfect" 10s go at it again. Providing Wilkinson comes through the overnight clash against the Pumas (and given his spotted record of injury, you wouldn't have started printing the posters just yet) we will see, with apologies to Matt Giteau, world rugby's two left-footed impresarios in a matchup of mouth-watering proportions.

Put it this way, don't expect the salivating Fleet Street wordsmiths to veer too far from a fairly predictable storyline this week as they preview the All Blacks' latest visit to Twickenham. It will be the Dan 'n Jonny Show by another name.

And, my goodness, it might just live up to its hype. Carter is creeping inexorably back to his very best form after a quite remarkable recovery from his Achilles tendon rupture.

Wilkinson has found the calming presence of the Med in Toulon a tonic. His England return, after 18 months in the injury-addled wilderness, began spectacularly in a 9-18 defeat to Australia. Despite the result he was hailed as a hero. Jonny was back.

"He's had his injury problems hasn't he," notes All Black great and Sky analyst Grant Fox. "He's basically been too brave for his own good and ended up spending more time on the sidelines than playing."

But Fox is not surprised to see the suddenly injury-free Wilkinson back as the centrepiece of England's game under Martin Johnson. "It's a revert to type isn't it," says Fox. "England are searching for a formula and it's back to the future. That's how they see the way ahead. And Jonny fits the bill perfectly. He'll steer them round the park, he'll kick the goals, he's always been an outstanding defender, and what he's also good at is promoting players around him."

There was one moment against the Wallabies when you truly believed. He chipped, jinked round the defender, regathered, and then flicked an offload to Paul Hodgson that deserved so much more than the recipient delivered.

"They searched for someone while Jonny was injured, but never really found that person," adds Fox. "It's a little bit like us with Daniel, isn't it. Daniel is head and shoulders above anything else we've got - and that's not being critical of the other five-eighths. It's just a complement to Daniel."

Italy and ex-Boks coach Nick Mallett admires Wilkinson but bows at the altar of Carter. "He's streets ahead of every flyhalf in the world and if he's 100 per cent fit there's nothing he can't do... he's got the perfect kicking game, he's a great defender, is very aggressive with ball in hand, is a deadly goalkicker, and most importantly when he plays a lot of the All Blacks play well around him."

Mallett's appraisal of Wilkinson is less flattering. "He's trying to fight his way back into international rugby again, and is trying to develop his attacking game which I don't think is at the same level as Dan's."

But Wilkinson has his supporters, and those who know him well say they've never seen him so measured, so relaxed, as he is now. He's the form No 10 in France by some way.

England team-mate Mike Catt calls him a "freak of nature" and marvels at his successful return. "Wilkinson was phenomenal. He defended and played as well as he has ever done," said the World Cup-winner.

Fox says their similarities extend beyond the left boot then both use so effectively.

"They're both very good tactical minds, real sharp-shooters, and they defend well. Daniel may have a slight edge in ball-in-hand stuff and he has age on his side.

"Both of these guys have the ability to make a real difference and sometimes it can be the difference between winning and losing."

Both are splendid players. Carter has had the better supporting cast, as well as the better luck with injuries. The Kiwi is also a more dangerous threat, as evidenced by his 25 test tries, compared to Wilkinson seven. Both are superboots, though Carter is verging on perfection these days and may even have left his rival in the shade.

But what can't be questioned is Wilkinson's courage. He has always held a flagrant disregard for his own wellbeing which may well be called upon again next weekend at Twickenham. Carter and his well-rested All Black team-mates will be in no mood to take prisoners. England's hero will be in their sights.

- © Fairfax NZ News