Sean Fitzpatrick: Smith shines at trial as All Black selectors fill in puzzle

I thought Conrad Smith was the player of the day in the All Black trial. He was in a class of his own. It was the first time I had seen him really stand out and I thought he was exceptionally accurate on attack and defence, intelligent and skilled.

If the selectors are looking at resting senior players like Tana Umaga during the Tri Nations, then I think they would have found his display very interesting.

And then there was Ma'a Nonu. He also played very well, particularly on attack, and I think he proved he is a player who will enhance the All Black test 22.

Overall, the trial was good. It was mostly a high standard although I did think that Graham Henry will have noticed some of the defensive lapses when the pressure was on. But this trial was also about the future and it is there that we should direct our thinking.

I am talking about players like Sosene Anesi and Nick Evans - even though he is already an All Black and even though he played well enough to warrant further consideration for this year.

I have to say that even though Joe Rokocoko has been sent off to the sevens for the next week or two, he could still be in the test side against the Lions. He has too much talent, too much experience at this level and too much class. He's a terrible player to defend against and even though Sivivatu is too - that first try of his was just sensational - I fancy that Graham may give Joe the nod because of the extra bit of experience he has.

I'd go the same way re Doug Howlett. I am a fan of Doug's and, even though he is not an explosive runner like Sivivatu, Rokocoko or Nonu, I am sure Graham knows what Doug is like as an All Black at that very top level.

In the forwards, I guess most interest centred around No 8. It was interesting to see the youth of Nick Williams and they were obviously having a look at him for the future.

We didn't see much of Rodney So'oailo in this trial although I don't think too many of the others in the frame for selection at No 8 really put up their hand and said "Pick me".

In the end, I think selection there will depend on whether the selectors want size or whether they want two fetchers - Richie McCaw and So'oailo to get to the ball before the Lions.

Ali Williams was a bit quiet but he will have been told to get his head down and graft and, to be fair, he hasn't had that much rugby lately which is why he would have been placed in the trial. He is the second lock in New Zealand at present and we need to give him game time and ook after him while he is earning the respect of his peers and the public.

However, after watching the trial, I said straight away that if there was a prospective bolter in the All Blacks, it would be in the front row.

I thought Tony Woodcock was outstanding and the difference when he went off was noticeable. He played well in the last test against France and was pretty much certain of a test place even before the trial and is, I think, now assured of one.

However, that whole front row - Woodcock, hooker Derren Witcombe and Crusaders prop Campbell Johnstone - went very well.

I liked the look of Johnstone, he went well, but it was Witcombe who really got me thinking. He went well at scrum and around the field. I know I may sound like I am giving Keven Mealamu a hard time I'm not, I respect his ability and his play, but I think we may need a scrummaging hooker against the Lions.

We may need a 110kg hooker to combat them at scrum time and, as I have been saying all along, with Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock there (and Greg Somerville), I think we may be able to turn our supposed weakness into a strength just as we did against France.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY