Warren Gatland has maintained his battle of words with New Zealand by raising doubts about the selection of Dan Carter for the match against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.

Carter, the All Blacks’ outstanding fly half, is struggling to shake off the effects of a calf injury suffered in the game against Australia on Saturday in Tokyo.

Gatland, the New Zealand-born Wales head coach, questioned why his countrymen would risk their most important player for the game. “We don’t think he will play,” he said. “If he hasn’t played Monday or Tuesday, why would you risk a player like Dan Carter?”

Carter responded yesterday after he trained for the first time this week. “I reckon this is another of Warren’s mind games,” Carter said. “I’m extremely confident that the injury will be OK. Once you’re out there, adrenalin takes over and I’m sure I’ll be fine.

“It’s hard for me to put a gauge on it percentage-wise. I’ll see how I pull up on Friday, but it will be my call. I hope Warren will be in for a shock.”

Gatland has already wound up the New Zealand camp this week, claiming that the All Blacks have lost their aura of invincibility after four defeats this season. As well as querying Carter’s fitness, he said that Wales’s planning was focusing on Stephen Donald, who would replace Carter if he is unable to start.

“Losing a world-class player like Carter obviously affects any team, even the All Blacks,” Gatland said. “A lot is made that the All Blacks don’t perform as well without him and Richie McCaw, but this is a great chance for Donald. He knows he has to take every chance when they come and that will be a threat to us. He’s a big, physical player who likes to take on the line himself.”

There was bad news for Wales with Mark Jones, the wing, ruled out for at least three months after surgery on torn knee cartilage, making him doubtful for the RBS Six Nations Championship.