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Conrad Smith holds the key for All Blacks

Roar Guru
5th September, 2011
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Roar Guru
5th September, 2011
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New Zealand's Conrad Smith, left, is chased down by Manu Samoa's Filipo Levi in the International rugby test at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford

New Zealand's Conrad Smith, left, is chased down by Manu Samoa's Filipo Levi in the International rugby test at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford

The All Blacks will win the 2011 Rugby World Cup and win it well. The reason? Look no further than outside-centre Conrad Smith.

It really has been unlucky number 13 for the last three All Black World Cup Campaigns. Outside-centre has never been filled by a full timer.

Selection disasters, injury and rotation of the number 13 position have been a fundamental to the All Blacks World Cup struggles. Let’s take a look:

World Cup 1999

Alama Ieremia was the recognised outside-centre in 1999. He played every test in the number 13 jersey for the All Blacks prior to the World Cup, enjoying two wins over South Africa, a win and a loss against Australia, and wins against Samoa, France and New Zealand ‘A’.

Two things stand out; Ieremia was trialled against New Zealand ‘A’ and he performed, his selection in the following matches confirms that. Secondly, a 28 – 7 loss to the Wallabies appears to have opened the can of worms.

This was the final match going into the World Cup. Ieremia was successful all year but New Zealand had Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Tana Umaga and Jonah Lomu to fill the back three.

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John Hart couldn’t help himself and the loss seemed to give him the justification he needed. Christian Cullen, one of the most devastating full backs of all time, was shifted to number 13 for the World Cup.

We all know what happened after that. Richard Dourthe played outside-centre for the French that day, he also scored a try.

World Cup 2003

Tana Umaga shifted from the wing in 2000 and had well and truly established himself as the All Blacks outside-centre by 2003.

(I hear those of you thinking, well hang on this move appears to be the same as the one with Cullen. Yes it is, and yes it worked this time. But, it wasn’t trialled during a World Cup!).

Umaga went down in the All Blacks opening World Cup game against Italy in the 23rd minute. He played no further part in that World Cup.

We all remember what happened in the semi final, a wonderful intercept and the tactical genius of Eddie Jones sent the All Blacks packing. Few remember that the Leon Macdonald started at 13 for the All Blacks in that game.

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It was clear that ‘King Carlos’ was having a ball during the World Cup, but unfortunately for him, he couldn’t flick pass the ball over the black dot.

The All Blacks needed a full time goal kicker and with Umaga out, John Mitchell thought he could solve two problems at once, Leon Macdonald to start at outside centre. Carlos couldn’t be relied upon.

Ignoring the obvious fact that Leon Macdonald has no ability to play 13, the above reasoning seemed okay.

We now know that Tana Umaga was fit for the semi final, John Mitchell has since acknowledged this. He did, however, still choose to leave him out.

Daniel Carter started three out of the four pool matches at inside centre for the All Blacks. He was the goalkicker in each game.

I acknowledge that Aaron Mauger was the preferred option, but Carter had proven his worth starting at number 12 in the pool matches and in several matches prior to the World Cup.

This would have solved the goal kicking problem far more effectively. How John Mitchell must wish he started Daniel Carter at 12 and Tana at 13 on that day!

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World Cup 2007

In 2007 the All Blacks shuffled between Isaia Toeava and Luke McAlister in the outside-centre position prior to the World Cup. Neither was convincing.

During the 2006 Tri Nations, Mils Muliaina started at number 13. He also started at 13 during one of the end-of -year tour matches against France on the 18 November, 2006.

Mils had established himself that year as perfectly capable of holding down the outside centre position for the All Blacks. Yet, he didn’t start another game in that position until September 8 2007, the start of the World Cup against Italy.

Yes, that meant earlier that year during the Tri Nations, he started at fullback or on the wing. He didn’t play at outside-centre again until the quarter final against France and that was the end of another World Cup campaign.

Conrad Smith is an underrated force in the All Blacks backline. With so much focus on Nonu vs Sonny Bill, Cowen vs Weepu, Dagg vs Muliaina and ‘Every Winger’ vs ‘Every Winger’, we forget that Smith is as certain a pick as Carter or McCaw.

There’s no doubt he lacks spark, but someone in the team is needed to steady the ship and take the right option.

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Does the below description provided by allblacks.com of Joe Stanley (All Blacks outside centre at the 1987 World Cup) sound familiar? This has to be a good omen.

“All his teammates rate him as the best centre of their time. He didn’t have a sprinter’s pace or a ram-rod fend but he did have rugby vision and the ability to do the right thing at the right time, every time.”

The same cannot be said about the outside-centres at the last 3 World Cups.

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