Rugby: Replacement centre already in sights of enemy

Malakai Fekitoa. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Wallabies plan to test the nerves and credentials of rookie centre Malakai Fekitoa after the 22-year-old was summoned to stand by for Conrad Smith in a pre-Bledisloe Cup setback for the All Blacks.

Skipper Richie McCaw says the All Blacks are all but resigned to being without Smith for the Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium in Sydney tonight after the 77-test veteran returned to New Zealand to be with his expectant wife.

After arriving in Sydney with his teammates only on Thursday night, Smith made a speedy U-turn yesterday morning and was rated only a slim chance to be back on deck for kick-off.

All Black coach Steve Hansen said Smith's wife, Lee-Ann, had been due to give birth to the couple's first child in a couple of weeks, but the pregnancy had advanced. "It looks like she's going to come a little bit early ... she started showing signs last night," Hansen said.

"If it goes really well, he could possibly be back. But we're not holding our breath on that."

Hard running, hard-tackling Fekitoa made his starting debut against England in June and McCaw is backing the one-test wonder to fill the void at outside centre if the vastly-experienced Smith fails to return.

"It's happened enough times over the past and just look at the last test we played where Conrad broke his thumb so ... Malakai was the last guy who played at centre in our last test so him slotting in will be fine," McCaw said yesterday.

"At the end of the day, if you let those things influence what happens on the weekend, I think you haven't really got your environment set up right," he said. "So hopefully everyone's aware of what's going on and prepared as such and they'll be ready to go."

If Fekitoa does start, he will line up opposite Adam Ashley-Cooper just six weeks after the in-form Wallabies midfielder earned a decisive points victory over the talented youngster in the Waratahs' 44-16 thumping of the Highlanders in Sydney.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says his side respects Fekitoa after his "cracking year with the Highlanders", but will target him.

"We understand it's a new player who will come in - Fekitoa - and you've got to try out those areas and see what you do," Hooper said.

McCaw hasn't totally given up on Smith playing, but admits it's unlikely.

"We just expect that he's not going to be here and, if he comes back and is ready to go, he is one guy that would do that no trouble," he said.

Crusaders centre Ryan Crotty will take Fekitoa's place on the bench.

- AAP