All Blacks: Smith urges caution over namesake at centre

Incumbent All Black centre Conrad Smith says having a break to look forward is keeping him motivated. Photo / Richard Robinson

As Conrad Smith prepares to play alongside a new midfield partner, more change is in the wind. He is also preparing for a rest at the end of the year - an absence - he says, which will help make the All Blacks a better team.

The 31-year-old veteran of 71 tests urged caution for those expecting a seamless transition from wing to centre for Ben Smith, his likely replacement when the Hurricanes skipper takes a sabbatical at the end of the year.

But once set, the added depth in a problematic area can only help as the World Cup defence in 2015 rapidly approaches.

At the start of the Rugby Championship, Smith weighed up his schedule and was energised by the thought he had only six tests (plus a Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Dunedin on October 19) remaining for the year. For him, the light is at the end of a long tunnel - a tough Super rugby season with the under-performing Canes was made worse by a concussion, and he admitted the thought of a break was appealing.

"It's pretty motivating, you've got to be careful not to get too ahead of yourself but it's served me well. It's kept me really up.

"I was talking to Dan [Carter] after he announced his [sabbatical] and I know it added to his frustration when he got injured. If you've announced a break you're going to want to end on a good note. That's how I'm feeling. I think I'm going to miss it and that's a good thing.

"I think it will benefit the team ultimately, the same as when Richie [McCaw] was away. I think we grew as a team. It was tough obviously at the time but you deal with it and you're better as a result."

As for Ben Smith slotting straight in, he said: "... It will be a big change. It's not as easy as some people think. The attacking opportunities are quite different.

"You've got to wait until what's created inside you whereas at wing you can counter-attack more and that's what he's good at.

"He's still pretty new to wing and I think that's why they wanted to give him time to sort that position out."

Smith's first priority, though, is to quickly gel with Francis Saili, the 22-year-old making his test debut against the Pumas at Waikato Stadium tomorrow night.

Smith has hardly played with the Blues player but feels Saili has the makings of an extremely good second-five. Indeed, he can see a young Ma'a Nonu lurking in the young man's frame and feet.