Paul Lewis
Pencil in Ben Smith for the World Cup
The great Ben Smith (yes, overused word but appropriate in this case) will go to the World Cup — but maybe only as a bench player or a squad member.
That partly depends on how Sevu Reece and, in particular, George Bridge are judged against the Wallabies and, more importantly, whether the All Blacks’ brains trust think 33-year-old Smith has hit the invisible wall that sometimes quietly fells international backs — or whether he just needs more time.
I tend towards the former, while acknowledging the talent of the man. In three tests since returning from his pinged hammie, Smith, usually fast to adjust, has failed to reach his own high standards. His pace seems down, his high ball skills seem a bit low ball and that wonderful, ghosting running which takes him past the first tackler to set up counter-attacks . . . well, the first tackler is winning more lately.
Backs can lose their juju quickly — particularly on the wing. Julian Savea is one example; Joe Rokocoko another. The latter seemed set to break Doug Howlett’s test try-scoring record — but his speed, work rate and ability under the high ball faded.
Hope I’m wrong. Smith in his pomp is a pleasure to watch and he pushes Christian Cullen close when it comes to the benchmark for attacking All Blacks fullbacks.
Rieko Ioane has also been puzzlingly muted of late — his speed, impact and confidence seem reduced — but will come again. Rokocoko had the same problem about the same stage of his career and recovered.
Smith may be headed for the bench, particularly if the Beauden Barrett-Richie Mo’unga show persists — and it will, though I still believe the All Blacks will approach this World Cup in a much, much tighter way than the helter-skelter, cross-field running and possession-gifting, dinky little kicks they have been offering of late.
Smith could find himself on the bench, covering wing and fullback — maybe the perfect player to bring on for the last 20 minutes. Or they could start Barrett at first-five and Smith at fullback for some close matches, with Mo’unga coming on to do the dual playmaker dance in the last quarter.
Smith has now played 79 tests, 31 on the wing and 32 at fullback (six at centre and 10 as a replacement). Of his 33 test tries, 21 have been scored when he started as a winger, 10 at fullback, one at centre and one as a sub. He hasn’t scored a try since October, against Australia in Japan, seven tests ago. His return after injury has been underwhelming but he may yet revive his touch.
There is a third option: Smith as a squad player only. He is off to France after Japan, ending a great career, so there will be a body of opinion that his successor needs to be anointed now: Jordie Barrett.
The case for Barrett becomes clearer if these are the outside backs for the World Cup: Ioane, Bridge, Smith, Jordie Barrett (Beauden and Mo’unga will be listed as first-fives) and Reece or Braydon Ennor — probably the former, although at the time of writing, he had yet to have an accurate kicking game aimed at him.
If the All Blacks continue with dual playmakers, they will need utility bench players, particularly in the backs — typically three alongside five forwards. TJ Perenara takes one spot, a midfielder another; Jordie Barrett can cover fullback, wing, midfield and, at a pinch, first-five/playmaker.
The omission of Owen Franks for Nepo Laulala strongly suggested the All Blacks selectors continued their experimenting/rotation as planned even after last weekend’s hiding by the Wallabies — an admirable display of coolness under fire if so.
Some felt loosehead prop Joe Moody was more likely to be dropped (he often cops scrum penalties) than Franks, a consistently good tackler and scrummager at a time of not many tighthead options. Hansen has called for props to be busier carrying the ball but rather than insert the more athletic Angus Ta’avao at tighthead for Australia, the selectors promoted Laulala — like Franks, more of a scrummager than a ball carrier — for his first start since Italy last year.
It’s little wonder many felt the need to panic, just a bit, after a bravura performance by the Wallabies and Jerome Garces’ typically difficult refereeing of the All Blacks. But now the Rugby Championship is done, it’ll be interesting to see if this is an ender for Bender as a first-choice All Black.