Carter determined not to surrender Bledisloe Cup

All Black star Dan Carter says that he is determined for New Zealand to retain
the Bledisloe Cup ahead of their two match series against Australia’s Wallabies.

The Wallabies and All Blacks will meet in Sydney this week and then in Auckland
next week with only this week’s match being part of the Rugby Championship.

The Rugby Championship title will be decided this weekend while the Bledisloe
Cup will be decided over the two match series.

The Wallabies last held the Bledisloe Cup in 2003 and the All Blacks have held
it since but senior players such as Carter can still remember the hunger to
win it off Australia.

Before 2003 the Wallabies had won won eight of 11 tests against the All Blacks
over five years and New Zealand’s wait to win the cup back seemed like an age.

Carter won his first cap in 2003 and 2015 is expected to be Carter’s final
year in an All Black shirt and he has made it clear that he does not want to
be part of the group that gives the Bledisloe cup back to Australia even though
the focus on the Rugby World cup.

“It’s huge,” said Carter when asked about the importance of the Bledisloe
Cup in a Rugby World Cup year.

“The Rugby World Cup aside, it’s the biggest thing you want to hold on
to. I’ve got some pretty special memories of winning it back in my first year.

“Just seeing the emotions of some senior players and how hard it was to
win it back really showed me first hand how much this cup means to New Zealand
and especially the All Blacks. “

“I’m pretty lucky through my career to have had a lot of successes, but
it’s a cup that means a lot to this team and one we want to work hard to retain.”

Carter says that the All Blacks will have to be on their game if they are to
beat the Wallabies and ensure that Australia cannot win the trophy back in Sydney
and says that the Wallabies are an “in-form” team currently.

“I’ve been really impressed,” he said. “They’ve put a lot of
work into their physicality. “

“Over the years they’ve always been extremely dangerous with ball in hand,
and that added physicality they’ve brought has been notable, and probably gives
them a bit more of an all-round game now.”

Carter says that he has mixed memories of visiting Sydney even though the All
Blacks have won six of 10 tests since 2003 and are unbeaten in their last five
visits – four wins and a draw.

“It’s a place Australia really get up for. They love playing in Sydney
and with the form they’re in it’s just going to add to their confidence. “

“We’re going to have to be right on top of our game,” Carter told
Stuff.

Carter was rested for last week’s match in South Africa and even though he
has spent much of 2015 playing at 12 he feels he is ready to reclaim his number
10 jersey for the Rugby World Cup.

“I’m happy with the way my game’s building,” said the 33-year-old
who missed the end of the last World Cup due to injury.

“I still feel like I can improve certain areas, but it’s just a matter
of making the most of every opportunity. “

“There’s a lot of competition in this team and you have to keep working
alongside the coaches and doing whatever it takes.”