All Blacks adopt wait-and-see on slippery surface

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WAIT AND SEE: All Blacks star Dan Carter will reserve judgment on Etihad Stadium's playing surface until he has seen it.

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Dan Carter is eager to get to Etihad Stadium to see what all the fuss is about, believing he can use technique to overcome any issues the supposed slippery surface may pose to his goalkicking.

The All Blacks management were due to visit the ground this afternoon after training at a local school.

While the All Blacks have been denied a captain's run there tomorrow the goalkickers have been granted an early morning opportunity to test out conditions which have dominated the city's sports pages this week, particularly from unhappy AFL officials who claim the surface is downright dangerous.

"There has been a lot of talk but you have to make your own judgement by actually going there and having a kick on the surface,'' Carter said today.

"We have a time slot on Friday morning so we will be able to make a call then as to what it's like.''

Suggestions of the match being moved appear well wide of the mark and part of the hysteria being built over the facility by the rival Aussie Rules code.

South African referee Craig Joubert will also inspect the ground today but there appears no alternative to playing the game on Saturday night given all the preparations that have been made for rugby's showcase event in sports-crazy Melbourne.

Carter says it's all about adjustments and coping with the situation.

"You have to deal with it no matter what. But you just have to step up and put it out of your mind and concentrate on all the other parts of the kicking process that you go through."

Carter's kicking has been a bit of a mixed bag all season and in the last test against South Africa he eventually handed over the duties to halfback Piri Weepu before regaining the responsibilities and his composure to see out a second impressive win over the world champions.

But there can be few complaints about Carter's general play. After a patchy Super 14 with the Crusaders he has returned to some inspirational form with the All Blacks.

He's comfortable with where his game is at right now though he is demanding more of himself on Saturday night.

"I'm happy with the way things are going personally. We have had a couple of good games against the Springboks where I probably sat back and played more of a tactical role.

"There are a lot of opportunities to use the ball in hand and we have some dangerous players. But it's not only making room for them but I want to be a threat at the opposition and use the ball in hand myself as well as the guys outside me.

"But I'm still aware that I have to continue to play that role of reading the game and steering the team around."

Having comfortably dominated the stereotyped game of Springboks No 10 Morne Steyn, Carter knows he is in for a tougher personal challenge against the Wallabies and it will be a double edged sword.

With Quade Cooper suspended the Wallabies will use Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes in dual five-eighths roles, alternating between playmaker and No 12 depending on circumstances.

It is going to keep Carter on his toes defensively. Here's how he sees the men he is up against:

"I don't think they lose a lot without Quade, maybe a bit of his attacking flair because he can spark something from nothing which is always dangerous.

"But Matt will get to see the ball a little bit more now and he is always a threat with the ball in hand and he has turned into a good tactician as well.

"Berrick is a very solid footballer who reads the game extremely well and always gets their team going forward through kicking and making good decisions there. He's a very steady player and no matter what situation he is always up for the challenge.

"The Wallabies and Matt especially play an attacking style of play. They will counterattack and use the ball more than the Springboks."

- © Fairfax NZ News