All Blacks and Lions players struggled to recall a more complete test rugby performance than Daniel Carter's hypnotic display here last night.
First five-eighth Carter pulled the strings of a brilliant 48-18 second test win, his 33-point display featuring two scintillating tries, four conversions and five penalties -- with the only blot being one missed shot at goal, which he typically highlighted after the game.
"I'm not really looking at the accolades at the moment," Carter said, soon before learning he had been ruled out of the third test with a shoulder injury.
"It's not something I really think about. I'm just happy I went out there and played the game I love. It was one of those nights when everything flowed and I made the most of every opportunity I had."
It was a splendid delivery on all the promise shown by a bright-eyed 21-year-old who debuted against Wales in Hamilton two years ago.
He scored the third-equal most points in a test by an All Black behind Simon Culhane's 45 against Japan in 1995 and Tony Brown's 36 against Italy four years later.
However, more memorable than the points was his precise control of New Zealand's high tempo game.
Carter's silky running and option-taking eclipsed his great opposite Jonny Wilkinson, even when the superiority of the team around him is factored in.
All Blacks captain Tana Umaga watched in awe.
"To play alongside an exceptional player like Dan Carter and witness what he was up to, what he was doing today...he runs the show," said Umaga, amazed a 23-year-old could handle the responsibility so coolly. "He's our leader and he leads us around with all the moves that we do.
"But he loves it. He has the right attitude, who knows what could happen from here?"
Carter's haul in just his 20th test sees him climb to third place in the All Blacks' point-scoring records list, level with Carlos Spencer on 291. Those ahead of him are fellow Canterbury and Crusaders teammate Andrew Mehrtens on 967 and Grant Fox with 645.
Fox said Carter was the "undoubted star' of the test.
"I've always had a high regard for his potential and thought that it was not a matter of if he would become a world class player but when," he said in a weekend newspaper column.
"When happened last night.
"I have no doubt Carter is going to be the greatest we've had."
Lions test backline coach Eddie O'Sullivan believed Carter was now the world's best No 10.
There was still much to learn, the quietly spoken Carter said, adding that it was just his sixth test at first five-eighth, having been used at second five through most of his first class career.
The presence of Umaga and second five-eighth Aaron Mauger outside him were important once again last night, he said.
"It's still a stepping stone for me to direct play, especially with the experienced guys there. It's pretty daunting telling them what to do all the time but they're good, they provide options for me and make my job a lot easier.
"It was a very special game. When you're throwing the ball around and you've got an attacking attitude, of course you enjoy it."
Carter felt like the All Blacks had control of the match midway through the second half.
That was about the time he was kicking the sideline conversion to his first try, completed with a deft grubber kick to beat fullback Josh Lewsey -- a moment unlikely to be forgotten by anyone who saw it.
NZPA