Creative in Cardiff

Fly half Dan Carter “played sublimely” against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff despite jeers from the capacity crowd, writes the Guardian’s Eddie Butler, “showing no sign of the calf injury that had persuaded some in Wales that he would not be fit to play”. New Zealand beat Wales 19–12 and Carter was named Man of the Match. “Jerome Kaino did a huge amount of work too at the tackle area, driving players off their feet. Ma’a Nonu heaved opponents out of the way. Richie McCaw did the rest, slipping the ball away from Welsh arms. Carter, curse him, felled another Welsh attacker with a ruthlessness that partly explains why Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand since 1953. They are better players, which helps.”