25 Oct 2010

Carter likely to play against Wallabies this weekend

12:02 pm on 25 October 2010

The All Blacks stars Dan Carter and Keven Mealamu both emerged unscathed from a 50-minute training match and are likely to take the field in Saturday night's dead rubber against the Wallabies in Hong Kong.

First five-eighth Carter, who has not played since the All Blacks beat the Springboks in Soweto in August, lasted the full 50 minutes, while hooker Mealamu completed 40.

Carter admits it will be a challenge to go into the game without having played a match since his ankle operation but says there's no better way to regain the speed, acceleration and contact fitness needed for Test match rugby.