All Blacks: Carter's radar right on target

Dan Carter's appearance seemed to lift his teammates. Photo / Getty Images

It took Daniel Carter three minutes to rediscover his All Black radar when his 39m angled penalty split the Sydney goalposts.

Another penalty strike three minutes from time was equally crucial as Carter kicked the visitors to a 19-18 victory to retain the Bledisloe Cup in his comeback test.

Once he showed his fitness in the national championship, Carter's test selection was automatic, though no one would have dared think his influence would have been so extensive, so early.

"He played well, amazingly really," backline coach Wayne Smith suggested.

It was Carter's 60th test and first this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon while on sabbatical in France earlier this year. As usual the five-eighths offered some low-key views on his contribution and raps for the team.

He had butchered a dropped goal attempt five minutes from time before pinning the Wallabies inside their 22 with a tactical kick from where the All Blacks won a penalty for Carter to convert.

"I joked with the boys I had to make up for that attempt by slotting that goalkick at the end. As a goalkicker you just love those situations and go through your routines and I was very happy to see it sailing through the posts," Carter said.

It was like Carter had never been away.

His appearance seemed to lift his teammates as they responded to the high standards he has brought regularly to the backline.

"With kicks like that you just have to go through your usual routines and you can't worry about what's riding on it and treat it like any other kick."

Carter said this international was everything he remembered about test rugby.

"It was a huge step up in intensity, physicality and speed and I just really enjoyed being out there. It was tough and very challenging at times and the Wallabies put us under a lot of pressure and got a lot of turnovers in what was a pretty frustrating first half.

"We got isolated when we got opportunities and they got turnovers so to come back the way we did in the second half ... was a good comeback."

Midfield back Ma'a Nonu was another who made a solid return coming on in the second spell after being benched to allow Luke McAlister to start at second five-eighths.

Nonu felt the side had responded just as they did last season after being beaten in Dunedin then Sydney in Tri-Nations combat.

"There was more pressure on us this year really because guys weren't fronting, myself as well you know. We hadn't played the footy that we are capable of," he said.

They made mistakes but reduced those errors in the last quarter to snatch victory. But one final Wallaby turnover had Nonu fearing the worst.

"They had numbers on the outside and man we were just stressing. It just comes down to looking after the pill, the ball is gold especially at that time. They could easily have scored. We hung in there and luckily one of their guys knocked it on."

Nonu could not put his finger on why the All Blacks were still missing some of their rhythm. He held his breath that he had positioned himself well off Sitiveni Sivivatu's shoulder and then caught the ball to go in for the only try of the test.

Tight forward Brad Thorn was spent after the contest, describing himself as a "walking carcass".

Both sides had given their all, the lock said, and it was a better performance, under pressure, from the All Blacks.

"It was just the heart, just the perseverance, it took beyond 80 minutes to win that game," said Thorn. "There were plenty of times we could have walked away but we just kept showing up and to me that is a real signature of the All Blacks jersey."