Carter Triggers Inquiry Into Rugby World Cup Ball

There is to be an investigation into the balls used in the Rugby World Cup after a complaint from one of the game's leading goal-kickers, Dan Carter. The New Zealand outside-half, who has a career place-kicking strike-rate of nearly 80%, missed five attempts out of nine against Scotland at Murray field on Sunday and it was not a day when kickers could blame the wind which often blows around the ground for their inaccuracy.

England's Jonny Wilkinson and Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, two of the most reliable goal-kickers in Europe, also had their problems with the boot in the last round of games and Carter said his concern was that the kickers had not been allowed to practice with actual match balls between matches.

"We have been using replica balls rather than being able to train with the balls we actually play with, and that has been frustrating," said Carter. "I cannot use that as an excuse for what happened on Sunday. I just wasn't striking the ball or reading the match conditions as well as I should have. It hasn't happened for a while and it is disappointing."

Greg Thomas, the International Rugby Board's head of communications, said that the IRB spoke yesterday with the manufacturers of the ball used in the World Cup, Gilbert, and that the company was examining replica balls provided for all the 20 teams competing in the tournament and comparing them with those used in matches.

"There should not be any difference between the balls given to teams for training and those used in matches," said Thomas. "We have not had an official complaint from New Zealand but we are aware of Daniel Carter's observations and we have asked Gilbert to look into the matter. Their response was immediate and they are currently carrying out an inquiry."