"I wouldn't [read] too much into my facials in a game," Carter said, "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 on the "other side" as he puts it, from the natural apprehension which follows a player's return from injury. He had good strength in his left leg, he was working hard on his flexibility and power and was confident he was back to being an 80-minute player. Regular rehab sessions and pilates had been a great boost.
He had passed every checkup with the physiotherapists, doctors and surgeons and had a clean warrant of fitness for his 86th test tomorrow, and an All Black record 71st appearance as first five-eighths after beginning his test life in midfield.
There would be the occasional twinge but that was nothing unusual. He expected some discomfort during the next few months but nothing worse.
"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."
It was also stimulating to be on the verge of his test comeback.
"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," Carter said.
Forming an alliance with debutant halfback Aaron Smith was another chapter in his career and he was sure the debutant would give great service, if his forwards protected him.
"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. We really have to work on that this weekend."
Sonny Bill Williams and Julian Savea were two huge athletes in the All Black backline who offered a range of opportunities but they needed to be used judiciously. It was not simply a matter of tossing them the ball and asking them to deliver.
"You have to have all the guys working hard around them to give them the opportunities for one-on-ones, but it is encouraging to have players like that around you because they create opportunities for players alongside and around them.
"They are great offloaders, they get good gain line and go-forward for the team and we are lucky to have two of the best."
Williams' game had progressed, he had worked hard on his rugby knowledge and he seemed to have a lot stronger game sense this season. His skills and athleticism were unquestioned and now he had tacked on much more rugby intuition.
Ireland were well served with Jonathan Sexton directing their backline, Carter believed.
He was a constructive five-eighths who was a dangerous attacker and great kicker with plenty of experience all around him in the backline. He's a great kicker with plenty of experience all around him in the backline.
FAST FACTS
* Daniel Carter is the second-most successful All Black of all time. His winning percentage in the black jersey stands at 88.2, just .1 per cent behind his skipper in the majority of those tests, Richie McCaw.
* Carter has played in just one losing test against Northern Hemisphere opposition, the galling 18-20 quarter-final loss to France at the 2007 World Cup.
* Carter has played Ireland four times for four wins but they remain the only tier-one nation the first five-eighths is yet to score a try against.
