By James Standley

Carter is set to leave Wilkinson trailing in his wake

It is easy to define the moment the baton was passed.

Twenty minutes into the second half of Saturday's second Test in New Zealand, Lions fly-half Jonny Wilkinson flew into a tackle on his All Blacks opposite number.

A couple of years ago there would have been only one outcome - the unfortunate New Zealander would have been rocked back in the tackle and lucky to keep his head on his shoulders.

However, in 2005 Wilkinson was brushed aside and subsequently had to be nursed from the field.

Instead, New Zealand's all-singing, all-dancing number 10 Daniel Carter sparked another searing All Black counter-attack.

It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated the passing of one era and the dawning of the new.

Wilkinson, the multi-skilled modern fly-half, has been rugby's global star since the turn of the millennium, but now Carter has assumed his mantle as the most influential player in the game.

On Saturday the 23-year-old was the perfect 10.

He combined pace and vision with laser-guided kicking and punching-above-his-weight defensive work.

Wilkinson used to excel at all of the above bar the first, and it is that attribute that marks Carter out as a man who truly has it all.

Wilkinson increasingly appears to be a shooting star whose most brilliant days are behind him

When the Crusaders' fly-half fended off the hard-hitting Gavin Henson to set up the All Blacks' first try he then showed something Wilkinson never has, namely a clean pair of heels to the chasing defence.

Before we get too carried away it is important to remember that Carter, bar this Lions series, has won nothing of substance yet.

To be a true great he will have to guide the All Blacks to concrete achievements - the 2007 World Cup for instance.

However, we must also remember that both All Blacks coach Graham Henry and former England and Lions fly-half Stuart Barnes described his performance in Wellington as the most complete fly-half display they had ever seen.

Following his sparkling displays in the All Blacks number 10 shirt over the past six months there can be little doubt that a star is born.

The great shame is that at just 26 Wilkinson is only three years older than his All Black rival.

The stage could have been set for the two to fight for supremacy for many years to come, but Wilkinson's glass shoulder seems to have finally caught up with him.

Despite knowing that pain that was just round the corner if he even slightly misjudged a tackle the Newcastle Falcon flung his body into the fray from the start of the Test series.

Carter helped himself to 33 points in the second Test in Wellington

In the first match he got away with it but it caught up with him in Wellington and, after suffering an initial "stinger" tackling All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, the attempt on Carter brought an end to his game.

Initially questions about his fitness for the third Test were met - as they always are - with firm assurances that he would be fine, but to no-one's surprise he is now rated as unlikely to play in the final match of the series.

How much longer Wilkinson can go on putting his body through such trauma must be in question.

It is 18 months since his operation and although the problem may have been alleviated to some extent there is undoubtedly a long-term problem that will always be with him.

As he was helped from the field on Saturday Wilkinson nodded to Carter.

The gesture could have meant many things, but respect for a fine opponent was undoubtedly one of them.

Carter will miss the deciding third Test after picking up a knock, so we will have to wait until the Tri-Nations before watching his strut his stuff once more.

It is possible his star may never shine as brightly as it did in his two-try, 33-point haul in Wellington.