Connacht match-winner Miah Nikora is determined to send Jonny Wilkinson packing in tonight's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final - just as he once did to Dan Carter.
Nikora came off the bench to seal Connacht's showdown with French glamour boys Toulon with a late drop-goal that clinched a 23-20 victory over Bourgoin.
The Kiwi fly-half was once part of the Wellington team that beat Carter and Canterbury in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup quarter-finals and now he has Wilkinson in his sights.
Nikora described his intervention against Bourgoin as the highlight of his career - and he is determined to top both experiences tonight.
Nikora said: ‘It does not get any better for a fly-half than to face Jonny Wilkinson. It will be a dream come true. I can remember when Jonny kicked the drop-goal to help England win the 2003 World Cup.
‘He has the best all-round kicking game and can put the ball in the corners or kick goals - but I still rate Dan Carter as the number one fly-half in the world as he has a better running game.
‘I've only played against Dan once and that was for Wellington against Canterbury. Like against Bourgoin, I came on in the second half but it was great to go up against Dan - and beat him.
‘That kick against Bourgoin was the highlight of my career with Connacht but I hope to go one better and pick up a win against Jonny and Toulon.’
Nikora came off the bench again in Connacht's 58-10 defeat to the Scarlets last Sunday and he has once against been held back as a super-sub.
Toulon, who last weekend qualified for the French Top 14 semi-finals, will parade their stars with Wilkinson joined by the likes of Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Joe Van Niekerk, Matt Henjak and Luke Rooney.
Wasps tackle Cardiff Blues in the other semi-final on Saturday.
