RUGBY TOUR:WHEN DAN Carter winced after attempting a long-range penalty in the first half of the Crusaders' 51-18 rout of the Highlanders last weekend, the camera paused and repeated his pained facial expression. In New Zealand, it truly isn't stretching things to say a nation winced with him.

They were shuddering at the memory of him tearing a tendon in his groin during kicking practice last October 1st, the day before New Zealand’s final pool game against Canada. Carter had been due to captain the All Blacks in Richie McCaw’s absence that day.

But word having spread like a bushfire after Carter had collapsed to the ground, on the morning of the game the All Blacks confirmed a nation’s worst fears. One Irish cafe manager in Wellington that morning described the silence that gripped a room full of supporters in black as funereal.

It was a particularly cruel cut for Carter himself. The greatest player, pound for pound, on the planet, was at the peak of his peerless powers and the World Cup on home soil should have been the pinnacle of his career.

Gradually eased back in at inside centre for a couple of games on foot of his return, Carter has since had two outings at outhalf while also assuming the kicking duties in their last two bonus-point wins, but he wouldn’t be human if there weren’t a few demons in his head regarding his groin. Not a bit of it apparently.

“I wouldn’t [read] too much into my facials in a game,” Carter said in that distinctive, laid-back drawl of his yesterday, oozing calm amid all the usual madness around him at the All Blacks’ media session, though the fretting was understandable. “I just kicked the ground before I kicked the ball. I felt a sensation go down my groin and I was testing it after that and the fact I lined up one 10 minutes later from 50 metres should have proved to everyone there is no problem at all.”

Carter is now on the “other side” as he described it, from the natural apprehension which follows a player’s return from injury, revealing that regular rehab and pilates had helped enormously, as had passing constant check-ups with the Crusaders and All Blacks fitness and medical staffs. Although he anticipated the occasional discomfiture, it was nothing to worry him. “It is not getting in the way of my performance, I can still play 80 minutes and am back kicking freely now and that is encouraging.”

Along with McCaw and six other surviving starters from the World Cup final, Carter had also been re-energised by the presence of seven new caps in their 30-man squads, three of whom will make their debuts against Ireland as he makes a record 71st appearance as an All Blacks’ outhalf.

“There is a new feel to the camp, it is a new environment and there are a lot of new faces who are bringing enthusiasm and it really does give you a spark when you have been here a few years,” he admitted.

Central to this is a new half-back partnership with the Highlanders’ Aaron Smith, a slick passing scrumhalf with whom Carter has never played with prior to this Test. “It will be exciting building a new combination and the 9-10 is pretty crucial so we will have to make sure we are functioning well and talking to each other because we have not had the chance to play alongside each other before so we really have to work on that this weekend.”

Perhaps there could be a little rustiness there. Then again, perhaps not too much. Class is permanent and all that. The best running, kicking, tackling, playmaking outhalf in the world, it will be fascinating to see how Jonathan Sexton goes up against him, not least given Sexton ticks all those boxes as well.

Last week at the new AMI Stadium, where Ireland will meet the All Blacks next week, it was also noticeable that Carter and the Crusaders hardly opted to put boot to ball throughout. When he did decide to do so, Carter chose his right foot to execute grubbers in behind the Highlanders first line of defenders.

Then again, cushioned onto his foot and deftly placed, both did lead to tries by Zac Guildford – indeed it was a prevailing theme of tries scored by New Zealand sides last weekend. In this and much else, Carter looked back to something ominously resembling his best. There was a try and 16 points from the boot, kicked from distance and all angles.

Afraid to say, though great in one way, it would appear that Dan is back.