All Black star Dan Carter prefers to be his team's sole playmaker and now that the failed experiment with two flyhalves has been shelved, he is confident that he can deliver the match-winning performance the New Zealanders so desperately need.

Speaking to the media ahead of his team's final Tri-Nations showdown with Australia in Wellington on Saturday, Carter admitted he is happy to have burly Ma'a Nonu back on his outside, with fellow flyhalf Stephen Donald reduced to bench duty.

The experiment with Carter and Donald interchanging against the Springboks last week was a dismal failure, so much so that Nonu was moved in from No.13 to inside centre early in the second half.

Even All Black coach Graham Henry admitted it was a mistake to play two flyhalves alongside each other and Carter said he is happy to have a specialist at inside centre this week.

"Yeah it is," he told NZPA, when asked if he was happy with Nonu's return to No.12.

"Obviously on certain occasions you have to adapt and that's part of being a professional footballer and doing what's best for the team.

"This week we've got a couple of midfielders and I'm back in that playmaking role solely. I still need the guys outside me to be giving options, but I guess it's more of a familiar role that I'm used to."

Admitting an error

Carter and New Zealand backline coach Wayne Smith agreed that playing two No.10s - the aim was to always have a flyhalf available as a first receiver - had limitations.

"We've worked alongside each other long enough now. He knows what I enjoy doing and he knows that I'm always going to put the team first no matter what," Carter said.

"[But] I'm sure he'll feel I'm comfortable in that role."

Carter was not too concerned about the mounting pressure on and criticism against the All Blacks - after a year in which they have lost four Tests in eight starts - including two at home and having been whitewashed by the Springboks.

"Me personally, I know what's going on within the team and what needs to be done," he said.

"We feel that we're playing below par but those expectations only come from ourselves because we have such high standards as All Blacks. We're always wanting to lift to those standards and expectations.

"Pressure is just part of the territory and you've got to use it to your advantage."

Another All Blacks plan that has failed to reap dividends this week was an experiment at training to place a camera on Carter's head.

The technology, employed recently by Wallabies opposite Matt Giteau, is designed to allow others to "see" what a playmaker does to aid attacking strategies.

"I don't think it worked too well, I think there has to be a few modifications," Carter told NZPA.

"We might use it in the future once we get a better handle on things."

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