Dan Carter will become the 26th player to win 100 Test caps when New Zealand take on England at Twickenham on Saturday.
New Zealand 26-12 Australia, Auckland, July 2007
A hectic schedule of six Tests in seven weeks for Carter culminated with him sticking the boot into Australia to earn New Zealand the Tri-Nations title for the third year in a row. Two things stand out about this display; Carter's reliable place kicking under pressure and both his - and the All Blacks' - physical resilience. This was not a classic match but a wet night at Eden Park called for control and Carter provided it. He also kicked seven penalties to go with Woodcock's try (his lone blemish was a missed conversion) and that, in the end, was more than enough.
South Africa 16-32 New Zealand, Johannesburg, October 2012
Carter missed out on the latter stages of New Zealand's World Cup triumph in 2011 due to a groin injury but any doubts that he remained the game's premier stand-off were erased with this display. This was Carter at his most tactically astute, adapting his game with age, and the result was a four-try rout that sealed a clean sweep for the All Blacks in the creatively-titled Rugby Championship. He finished with three conversions, a penalty and a drop goal while both members of his midfield - Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith went over for second-half tries.
And one to forget...
New Zealand 18-20 France, October 2007
Between their World Cup wins in 1987 and 2011, New Zealand developed the reputation for being 'chokers' at the quadrennial tournament. The quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff in 2007 was stunning because it was so unexpected. Carter played his part - including a well-timed pass to send Luke McAlister over for the opening try - as New Zealand dominated the first-half and built a 13-3 lead. But it all went horribly wrong after the break and, worst of all for Carter, he had to sit and watch his team implode from the sidelines as a calf injury forced him off in the 53rd minute, just after France had levelled at 13-13.
