MILAN - Dan Carter admits he doesn't really know what to expect in the first trip to the judiciary of his glittering professional rugby career.
The star All Blacks first five-eighth was mobbed by reporters at a sponsor's function in Milan today, where he squared off with soccer star Diego
in a kicking contest, then was whisked to the airport with assistant coach Steve Hansen.
Tonight (10pm NZT) in London he will face a dangerous high tackle charge where his playing future on the tour of Italy, England and France will be determined by International Rugby Board-appointed judicial officer, Englishman Jeff Blackett.
"It's a tough one but I can't worry too much. I've just got to go there and put my case. I've never been to anything like this before so it's something new for me. I guess I'll worry about it when I'm there," Carter said.
Carter will be represented by London-based lawyer Owen Eastwood and accompanied by Hansen, who represented fellow All Blacks Sitiveni Sivivatu (dangerous tackle) and Tony Woodcock (striking) when they received one-match bans in Tokyo.
The 64-test All Black was cited by Australian citing commissioner Scott Nowland for the 72nd-minute tackle on Welshman Martin Roberts in Sunday's 19-12 win in Cardiff.
He admitted it was a new experience to be booed so loudly by a crowd, and apologised to Roberts soon after the test at Millennium Stadium.
"It wasn't intentional, just one of those things."
Carter said he'd never been sinbinned for the Crusaders or All Blacks, and struggled to recall ever being sanctioned for foul play.
"Not since I've been playing professionally, the odd one in age grade rugby but nothing too serious, I can't really remember, to be honest."
The best case scenario for the All Blacks would be a one-test ban, with Carter highly unlikely to start this weekend's test against Italy anyway to give Stephen Donald or Mike Delany their chances at pivot.
Anything longer would rule him out of the England test at Twickenham, and potentially the big test of the tour against France in Marseille which would be a massive blow to the All Blacks' chances of avenging their June test upset.
But given Carter's record and the relative seriousness of the offence - compared with Sivivatu's and Woodcock's against the Wallabies - anything more than a one-week suspension would be a major surprise.
Still, Carter harboured hopes of playing at San Siro, even off the bench, before a packed house of 75,000-plus early on Sunday (NZT).
"I'd love to play at San Siro, it's an amazing stadium and I'd love to be part of it."
- NZPA
All Blacks first-five Dan Carter is making his first trip to the judiciary. Photo / Getty Images
MILAN - Dan Carter admits he doesn't really know what to expect in the first trip to the judiciary of his glittering professional rugby career.
The star All Blacks first five-eighth was mobbed by reporters at a sponsor's function in Milan today, where he squared off with soccer star Diego
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