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Dan Carter: ‘Millennium Stadium is best place to play’

Further coverage: BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio.

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New Zealand players were given a sleepless night on Saturday after being disturbed by rowdy Welsh fans celebrating their famous World Cup win over England.

In what should be music to the ears of any rugby fan fed up with teams deliberately trying to slow the ball down, Georgia coach Milton Haig insists his side will commit to a free-flowing match when his side meet the All Blacks on Saturday.

“We arrived in Cardiff that day and it’s fair to say the city was going pretty mad that night”, he said.

New Zealand’s outing with minnows Namibia was marred by a ponderous second half, with numerous stoppages frustrating the defending champions and seeing them lose patience and composure.

Crusaders star Whitelock is hoping that Welsh fans in the ground will be backing them come Friday’s Pool C clash with the Georgians. I’ve got a lot of great memories of playing here.

“[For Wales] to hold on in there until the end I thought was great”.

New Zealand have won all six of their games against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, but lost the quarter-final against France during the 2007 World Cup in Cardiff.

I’m often asked which is my favourite stadium at which to play.

“It’s an fantastic place with an awesome atmosphere”.

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock revealed his team-mates were kept awake by the celebrations in Cardiff after Wales’ victory over England.

“The atmosphere is always electric – obviously we’re not playing Wales so it may not be the same, but it will still be a capacity crowd and I’m sure it will be awesome”.

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Haig said they used wrestling techniques as part of their preparation for the tournament, but it was unlikely to influence their style of play.

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