KEY POINTS:
Conrad Smith has been scratched from the All Blacks starting 15 for Saturday's test against Canada in Hamilton.
All Blacks medical staff have deemed Smith is unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury in time to take the field.
Luke McAlister will start the test at centre, teaming up with veteran second-five Aaron Mauger in the midfield.
McAlister says playing centre rather than second-five brings new challenges. He says there is a lot more speed at centre and you have to read the attack better, whereas at second-five you have a man both inside and outside you so the attack is easier to read.
Smith's withdrawal means he is yet to play for the All Blacks this season. He will also not join the team for either of the Tri Nations away fixtures in Australia or South Africa. He is running out of time to prove his worth ahead of the World Cup and is set to play club rugby in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile just 3,000 standing tickets remain for the All Blacks test against Canada in Hamilton on Saturday night. Already, 22,000 tickets have been sold for the 25,000 capacity Waikato Stadium.
- NEWSTALK ZB
