All Black superstar admits revising his drop-goal technique ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Mercurial fly-half works on skills for World Cup
All Black superstar Dan Carter has admitted taking a leaf out of England rival Jonny Wilkinson's playbook by honing his drop-goal technique ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The mercurial fly-half, an integral part of New Zealand's bid to win the tournament on home soil, is all too aware of the All Blacks' failure to slot goals as it has cost them dearly in the past.
The revered New Zealander's natural instinct is to seek out the tryline instead of attempting to kick goals, and when Carter went off injured in the 2007 RWC quarter-final 21-18 defeat to France, this kicking frailty was the difference.
Les Bleus first stunned the All Blacks in the 1999 semi-final, with two Christophe Lamaison drop-goals giving the French a 43-31 victory.
Carter does not want a repeat of that fateful day during the 2011 tournament, and has taken it upon himself to meticulously practice drop-goals to add it to his arsenal.
"You can't avoid it. It's important, especially come World Cup time when games are so intense and tight," he told
The Daily Telegraph.
"Historically, the All Blacks and myself do not take a lot of dropped goals but it's an important part of my position. I'm working away at it and building my confidence so I can bring it out when needed."
Avenge past defeats
The 29-year-old has revised his game plan after seeing Wilkinson's success in winning the 2003 World Cup with a drop-goal. The Englishman, who is seven points ahead of Carter in the all-time highest Test scorer rankings with 1,195, has slotted 33 drop goals compared to Carter's two.
But Carter has no answers as to why the southern hemisphere giants are perennial underachievers in the competition.
"I wish I did know the answer so we could change it," he said.
"I know the opposition love playing and beating the All Blacks, just look at the French team on a couple of occasions.
"It's like they've played their grand final against the All Blacks and the following week you know they'll bum out and not win because they have put everything into the week before against us."
With France grouped with the hosts in pool A at this year's tournament they will be hoping to avenge past defeats, particularly given Carter's new-found desire for drop-kicks.
