Smith to face Pumas
3 Sep 2012
Conrad Smith has recovered from an eye injury and is likely to start in the centres against Argentina.
According to Fairfax NZ, Smith is back in the mix after returning from eye surgery. All Black attack coach Ian Foster said Smith would resume his partnership with Ma’a Nonu, a combination that was in place when New Zealand won the 2011 World Cup.
‘He [Smith] brings lots of leadership, he brings a lot of experience to the decision making part of the game, particularly in the backs,’ said Foster.
‘He’ll be good for that and particularly I think him and Ma’a getting back together [in the midfield] after a while could be interesting.’
The inclusion of both Nonu and Smith in the starting side is made easier by the absence of Sonny Bill Williams, who is now playing club rugby in Japan.
17 Comments
3 Sep 2012, 07:33 am
Great news, one of the best around.
3 Sep 2012, 07:59 am
Midfield depth! Sayonara SBW!
3 Sep 2012, 08:07 am
Lose SBW gain Smith! Scary!
3 Sep 2012, 08:55 am
@TheTackler-2: depth? someone pops snakey in the eye again and the all blacks are stretched in midfield again and will have to play ellison, ben smith or nonu @ 13 where nonu wasn’t particularly impressive.
3 Sep 2012, 09:30 am
@Transformation-4: Be fair. Ellison, and B Smith are good cover.
3 Sep 2012, 09:37 am
This will be an interesing game. Last year the Pumas were rather competitive against the ABs.
3 Sep 2012, 10:00 am
Smith is an awesome player. As is Nonu. Both different to SBW, but that’s all. Not any worse. In fact, I believe Nonu and Smith are a better combination. All three are far less predictable to a, Jean de Villiars, for example.
3 Sep 2012, 10:09 am
@rossoneri-5:
@race of tan-6: yes a little fact that most people have conviniently forgotten…in the 65th min of that game the score was 18 – 10 to the all blacks on the back of 6 piri weepu penalties and only when the argies were down to 10-men and moeg did the all black score tries..
3 Sep 2012, 10:10 am
@rossoneri-5: yes, good cover but hardly experienced
3 Sep 2012, 10:17 am
@Transformation-8:
Your point being what?
Last time I looked at the Laws a game of rugby runs for 80 minutes.
The last 15 minutes of that match highlighted the lack of steam in the Puma’s boilers keep up the defensive effort.
3 Sep 2012, 10:52 am
The Argies were down to 10 men……. that must have been a red card world record, surely
3 Sep 2012, 12:38 pm
@Blokkies-11: Well, if it’s pity they wanted with thebig AB foot pressing on all ten their necks, they’d come to the wrong place.
3 Sep 2012, 12:43 pm
@Brads-10: the pumas were no easy beats even for the tournament favourites.
of course the 8th ranked team in the world was going to be oulasted by the no.1 ranked team…
happy now?
3 Sep 2012, 13:07 pm
SBW will be missed badly
3 Sep 2012, 13:39 pm
@Bok fan-14: Not that badly. Their centres are still yards ahead of Springbok and Wallaby options.
3 Sep 2012, 13:51 pm
@super_adi-15: Ja, Nonu and Smith are agood combo but Carter was really starting to gel with SBW and becoming a real thorn to defend against
4 Sep 2012, 03:22 am
Mauger, Umaga, SBW, Nonu, C Smith, Sam Tuitupo, Casey Laulala – fine current & recent centres
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