All Blacks: Smith hopes midfield stars can align

All Blacks second-five Ma'a Nonu led the Super 14 in clean breaks and defenders beaten. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks coaches have been careful to make sure strike runners Ma'a Nonu and Isaia Toeava don't cramp each other's style in the first rugby test against France on Saturday.

Two players who dominated for their Super 14 teams through some remarkable ball-carrying feats are united in the midfield for the first time at Carisbrook.

Both are capable of individual brilliance but assistant coach Wayne Smith is wary that they link in the manner of a classical midfield, looking to help each other and set up teammates further out.

"We've put a bit of heat on them both to execute well, to be highly-skilled, to communicate what they see," Smith said.

"I think there's enough diversity there to perform, hopefully, that's the aim. Certainly there's some strike power."

Toeava stood out in a struggling Blues side with countless sizzling breaks while Nonu consistently busted tackles all year.

Tournament statistics tell a story. Nonu was first and Toeava second in two categories - clean breaks and defenders beaten - while Toeava ate up more metres than anyone, with Nonu fifth in the competition.

What would have most pleased Smith was that both were also in the top three for passes thrown, by all midfield and outside backs.

It suggests the versatile Toeava has the sort of game to comfortably fill in for injured centre duo Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui.

Smith's ultimate desire is for a midfield pairing who boast allround qualities, accepting for example that Nonu doesn't yet possess the kicking game of Australian No 12 Berrick Barnes.

"We got through last year with a certain style of play but I think you're a lot more dangerous with a more varied set of skills," he said.

"You need that option and we're confident Ma'a is coming on in that area.

"I thought he was the best 12 in the world last year and again in the Super 14, he was the best 12, I thought."

Nonu, now among the more experienced members of the All Blacks, thrives on constant game time but Smith said the Wellington powerhouse had benefitted most from improved confidence and professionalism.

"For him, a lot of it is about how he's managed himself," Smith said.

"He's the lightest I've seen him, he's the quickest I've seen him and at the end of the day that's what counts for him.

"He's earned the right to be that person (first choice) through his performance. He's a big part of our team now."

Smith believes Nonu has a key role in helping Toeava settle as well as providing direction for first five-eighth Stephen Donald.

"He's really important in terms of reading space for Stephen and passing on information, he proved really good at that last year. (First choice No 10) Daniel Carter spoke highly of him in that role."

Nonu will mark 68-test French veteran Damien Traille, who was named last night in a fairly predictable French side.

The teams bear several similarities, most notably the number of total test caps which they share at 346.

The tourists have a slightly more hardened pack but aside from Traille and Toulouse winger Cedric Heymans - playing his 50th test - will field a raw-looking back division.

Leicester halfback Julien Dupuy will make his debut and has been handed the goalkicking duties.

The pack is anchored by 74-test prop Sylvain Marconnet, with captain and flanker Thierry Dusautoir the next-most experienced forward with 22 caps.

Coach Marc Lievremont named a nine-man bench, having included Nicolas Mas and Thomas Domingo who arrived on Monday after playing for Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne in the French domestic final last weekend so must prove their fitness.

All Blacks
Mils Muliaina (captain), Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Kieran Read, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, Tanerau Latimer, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Cory Jane.

France
Maxime Medard, Cedric Heymans, Mathieu Bastareaud, Vincent Clerc, Damien Traille, Francois Trinh-Duc, Julien Dupuy, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir (captain), Romain Millo-Chluski, Pascal Pape, Sylvain Marconnet, William Servat, Fabien Barcella.

Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Thomas Domingo, Sebastien Chabal, Remy Martin, Julien Puricelli, Dimitri Yachvili, Yannick Jauzion, Alexis Palisson (two to be omitted).

- NZPA