He's not purely an Armageddon option - he has, since his test debut in 2003, developed strong wrists and soft hands which allow him to distribute under pressure.
Smith covers more ground than any man really should and by being two steps ahead of the opposition, he finds space on attack and occupies it on defence. Renowned as an organiser, his 25 test tries are a reminder that he's a strike runner in his own right.
These are the component parts, the sum of which has been almost priceless for the All Blacks since they first appeared in jerseys 12 and 13 against Ireland in June 2008.
They haven't been perfect throughout their seven seasons together, but they have been mostly brilliant. Their instinctive reading of the game and each other has enabled them to conjure frequent small miracles.
But perhaps their most valuable offering is the assurance and confidence they inspire in those around them. "They just know what they are going to do, what they can bring to the game," says All Black fullback Israel Dagg.
"They have got such great vision but what I love about them is that they work really hard for the full 80 minutes. I know when we are looking to counter-attack both of them will be back there to lend a hand.
"And on defence they will be working hard to get across and help out. I just love their desire and determination to have each other's backs."
Ben Smith, as another major beneficiary of the productivity of the All Black midfield, has spent enough time in the No13 jersey to have an even deeper appreciation of the Nonu-Smith partnership.
"We could be here all day," he says when asked to give some idea about what he thinks Nonu and Smith bring to the All Black backline.
"But yeah, I think Ma'a is a really strong ball carrier. On a wet night he can get the momentum back on your side by his strong ball carries. He sucks in a few defenders.
"Defensively, he shuts down people's space and I think Conrad is a wee bit the same. He uses his experience both on attack and defence and sees where the opposition are vulnerable. They are two very classy players."
The stage is perfectly set for Nonu and Smith to reinforce their status tonight. For various reasons, it has been more than a year since they put together a run of high-impact performances where their partnership acts as both provider and finisher, where they exploit as much as they create.
Smith's end-of-year sabbatical saw him miss the last five tests of 2013, while injury has reduced them to four starts together this year and in two of those - Eden Park against England and Sydney - the All Blacks were collectively poor.
On the rock-hard, super-dry surface in Dunedin, there was a 20-minute period where the world was treated to vintage Smith and Nonu. They were at the heart of that devastating blitz that blew England away and there was one magic moment of them combining in full flow.
Smith ran the perfect line to take the hole and then threw an immaculate long pass to put Nonu away in the corner.
It's not as if Nonu and Smith have been passengers otherwise or provided any cause for concern that their powers are fading.
They have been the adhesive that has allowed other more prominent features such as Julian Savea and Ben Smith to command the attention.
To beat South Africa tonight, Nonu and Smith may have to be more than the adhesive.
The All Black threat is so much more potent when Nonu and Smith are punching holes, when they are working in tandem to break the first line of defence and set their outsides up with one-on-one opportunities.
There's nowhere to hide when Nonu and Smith are at the peak of their powers - using all of their combined weaponry. So far this year, they haven't unleashed the full arsenal - and the clock is ticking.
Sonny Bill Williams is probably only three, maybe two tests away from being available for the All Blacks. The equation will change when he returns; the onus will be on Nonu to provide compelling performances.
An athlete of Williams' calibre is often hard for selectors to resist and yet resist they most likely will if Nonu and Smith use the next few tests to confirm that longevity is synonymous with excellence.
Great midfield pairings
Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll
The Irishmen are legendary in Northern Hemisphere circles for the comfort and effectiveness of their combination.
D'Arcy played the role of straight man, using his timing and distribution to play the more talented and higher impact O'Driscoll into the holes. They have held their own against the All Blacks on several occasions - most notably in Dublin last year when they dominated Nonu and Ben Smith.
Walter Little and Frank Bunce
These two had something about them that lifted the All Blacks to a higher level. Little had electric feet and an incredible fend. Bunce was raw power, precision and defensive bite. Big mates off the field, they read each other on it. Some of the greatest outside backs thrived with Little and Bunce in the midfield - Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson and Christian Cullen.
Tim Horan and Jason Little
Horan was one of the best second-fives to ever play the game and could cause a whole heap of damage on his own. When he worked in tandem with his good mate Little, the threat level went up again. These two were slick, fast and clinical. They didn't take prisoners and they just about won Australia a World Cup on their own.
