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The Wallabies’ backline likely have their best shot to crack the All Blacks’ backline in next week’s final Bledisloe Cup match with the departure of All Blacks centre Conrad Smith for a well-earned six months break, or as the New Zealand Rugby Union (NRZU) calls it – a sabbatical.
Long dubbed the best defensive-centre in world rugby, Smith has frustrated oppositions with his impregnable defence since his debut in 2004.
As the defensive kingpin of the backline, Smith has been part of a stingy All Blacks defence that up until last week in South Africa, had not conceded more than four tries since 2010.
Come to think of it, it is a bit weird to be complimenting a man like Smith when he doesn’t quite stand out as a physical specimen. In fact, he’s only 6’1 and weighs only 95 kg (a tad small by modern standards), and in fact, he tends to look a wee bit goofy with his facial expressions on the field.
But those who dismiss his talents will quickly be in for a rude shock. Smith is an incredibly cunning player who worms his ways into holes, distributes with accuracy and above all, tackles with the ferocity of a forward.
“Compared to a flanker you will probably make only half as many tackles but your missed tackles will normally result in tries, whereas missed tackles in close might earn the opposition a couple of metres” said Smith, who has formed a deadly 51 Test combination with inside-centre Ma’a Nonu.
Their success rate when matched up together? An astounding 90% win rate for Conrad Smith with 24 tries and 87% win rate for Ma’a Nonu with 25 tries.
So how exactly do you replace a man who has solidified his position for so many years now? Well, you can’t. You see, the centre position, along with the number eight position are probably the two positions in which New Zealand, for all their depth, are probably weakest in.
Luckily for New Zealand, the impending arrival of Jerome Kaino next year, along with the emergence of Steven Luatua, will make it easier in terms of addressing the number 8 position should Kieran Read fall in battle (even if Kaino is more of a blindside flanker). But the centre position has often been troublesome for the All Blacks.
The hope is that utility-back Ben Smith, who has long been identified as Conrad Smith’s heir, can shuffle into centre, which would open up the right wing for the return of Cory Jane and that ferocious left palm.
The other big hope is for the return of Sonny Bill Williams back to the Chiefs next year, which will allow the All Blacks to mix and match the trio and explore a new playing style – a contingency plan, if you like, in the absence of Conrad Smith.
That, along with up-and-comer Francis Sali shall ensure a strong foundation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
However, Williams (and assuming he returns) won’t be back until late this year or early next year, which likely means that Ben Smith will indeed inherit the number 13 jersey against the Wallabies.
This opens up the right wing for either the shock return of Jane (who has just returned from injury), the debut of Frank Halai or a move to the right wing for young explosive fullback, Charles Piutau.
So how will Ben Smith do at centre?
There is no doubt about Ben Smith’s ability.
He was one of the form players of the Super Rugby campaign for a dreadful Highlanders team, and subsequently carried that mesmerising form onto the international stage, including the Rugby Championships, where he started at wing and broke the try scoring record.
But therein lies the most crucial part of the puzzle.
Smith has always been an outside (utility) back. In fact, he has only played centre once for the All Blacks, alongside former Highlanders teammate Tamati Elison against Scotland in Edinburgh, a match New Zealand won 51-22.
A big problem for Ben Smith to overcome in the coming weeks is his stature. He is 10 kg lighter than Conrad Smith, who as I mentioned earlier, is already lighter than other centres in world rugby. That could well reflect in his ability to defend the line.
In fact, without Conrad Smith and the injured Dan Carter, the All Blacks midfield is suddenly looking vulnerable. Quite vulnerable.
Aaron Cruden can hold his line, but is limited by his small stature (he’s only 175 cm) and his body has shown that it can only take so much damage.
Ma’a Nonu is a bruising tackler, but is often lazy and reckless.
A good example was last week when he ignored a charging Duane Vermuelen in through a gap, leaving the tight-head prop in Charlie Faumuina to chase and defend him, which subsequently allows Bryan Habana to cross the line for the first of his two tries. Poor read and a poor effort.
Then on the bench, you have Beauden Barrett whose defence is one of the great enigmas in rugby. On one hand, he can be tidy and effective, as he displayed against the Pumas the week before.
But on the other, his reputation as a defensive liability could come to haunt him as shown by Jean De Villiers last weekend. Then five minutes later, he shows his incredible speed to catch Willie Le Roux and deny him a nailed on try.
And that’s where Ben Smith has to come in.
Like Conrad Smith, he is a tricky customer and is a clever defender. But he was exposed early on when Habana outpaced and outplayed him twice to cross over the dotted line.
That along with a string of other close encounters does raise concerns that his defence may well be a liability for the All Blacks down the road.
That is, however, not a premature dig at Smith.
Not many people can outpace Habana, let alone overcome that second try, which was a piece of individual brilliance, but Smith has to show more brute force and authority on his wing so as to send a message to the opposing attack.
Tackles can’t be just a tackle anymore. Tackles need to be definitive, and painful for the opposition. And more so than anything, they need to count.
It’s the reason why you rarely see opposition teams target Conrad Smith; quite simply because it doesn’t work. Ben Smith needs to inflict the same mindset onto oppositions as well.
And there’s also the attack. As an outside-back, Smith is more accustomed to finishing off a play rather than being a facilitator.
We haven’t seen too much of his passing game in the Rugby Championship thus far, and it remains to be seen whether he has the discipline or the experience to draw in defenders to free up a wing player.
It remains a crucial part of the outside-centres position and one that sadly, many outside backs lack. We all saw just how dreadful Adam Ashley Cooper was at passing, which subsequently saw his demotion to the right wing.
Luckily though, New Zealanders do tend to be more prevalent at these skill sets than others, having been schooled in these areas from a young age at their grassroots, all the way from ITM, to super rugby and now the All Blacks.
And it’s a skill that the All Blacks have put a lot of emphasis on (along with contestable high kicks).
A good example is Israel Dagg, who has developed into such a fine player, that many have overlooked the fact that he often plays fly-half at times for his amazing distribution skills (think back to the second Bledisloe Cup when Tom Taylor was ushered in).
Ma’a Nonu too has significantly improved in this area (along with his offloading and kicking) and this was evident in last week’s game when he ushered Ben Smith over for a brilliant try on the right wing.
Whether he can live up to his namesake or not is the 20 million dollar question. But what is certain is that the Wallabies will have their best chance to crack that wall of Black his weekend, and there’s no doubt that Joe Tomane and Tevita Kuridrani will be salivating over their golden opportunity.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.