Smith tips Perenara out of test start

This is one the pundits will chew over.

Steve Hansen has handed the once-troubled Aaron Smith first crack at the starting All Blacks halfback spot in the face of a heated challenge from in-form Hurricane TJ Perenara.

Smith gets the start in a predictable starting XV to face Samoa tomorrow night at Eden Park in the second leg of the Pasifika Challenge, a match that doubles as the All Blacks’ one and only shakedown ahead of the looming threetest series against the British and Irish Lions.

It is as close as Hansen can get to his shadow first test starting XV to face the Lions, taking into account that skipper Kieran Read (thumb), midfielder Ryan Crotty (ribs) and backup first five-eighth Aaron Cruden (knee) are still nursing injuries, but are expected to enter the selection equation next week.

Aside from the preference of Smith over his Hurricanes rival who has been playing the house down in Super Rugby, other features of the side to face Samoa include Ardie Savea getting the opportunity to prove his versatility with a start at No 8, Ben Smith becoming the 68th All Black captain in his 61st test, and Jordie Barrett and Vaea Fifita both given the chance to make their test debuts off the bench.

It will also be the 50th test cap for World Rugby’s player of the year Beauden Barrett who will start in his customary No 10 jersey, and (on 297) look to pass the 300-point mark in tests.

With all three Barrett brothers chosen in the match-day 23 (Scott is also on the bench covering the second row), the Taranaki siblings will likely make history as the first trio of brothers to take the field in the same test for the All Blacks.

But it’s Hansen’s preference for Smith as his starting halfback that is bound to dominate the watercooler talk as the team is digested through the day.

Remember, Smith’s season rather imploded over the back part of 2016 when his off-field travails served as the catalyst for a dramatic loss of form.

By season’s end Smith had been usurped by Perenara as the starting halfback, and the busy Hurricanes halfback has continued that outstanding form into 2017.

But Smith has recovered his equilibrium and refound his A-game, which left the All Blacks coaches with a tough decision at halfback, where third option Tawera Kerr-Barlow has also been in fine form for the Chiefs.

‘‘They’re like three little kids in a sandpit,’’ said assistant coach Ian Foster this week of his ultracompetitive trio of halfbacks. ‘‘I love their attitude.’’

Savea also gets a chance to add to his growing value in these All Blacks with the start at No 8. Quality minutes in that spot will be like found money for the coaches who treasure versatility in their players.

Codie Taylor slots in, as expected, for the absent Dane Coles at hooker, and in midfield Sonny Bill Williams returns for his first All Black appearance since the 2015 World Cup, where he teams with 2016 find of the season Anton Lienert-Brown.

Israel Dagg also retains his spot on the right wing after an injurytroubled Super Rugby season, though will feel the need for a strong performance against the Samoans after Waisake Naholo’s statement outing for the Highlanders against the Lions.

Hansen said Ben Smith’s promotion to the captaincy was a nobrainer.

‘‘He’s been our vice-captain for a few years now and captain of the Highlanders, where he’s been doing a fantastic job, so he was the logical choice.’’

He also looked forward to the test debuts of Jordie Barrett and Fifita off the bench. ‘‘They’ve both been in great form.’’