There is no denying that the All Blacks have found a winning centre pairing in Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu. However, with both players coming on a bit in life (both being 32), the idea of who will take over this vital combo is something many are starting to ponder. Due to family commitments in the Smith household (his wife giving birth to their first child) and injuries plaguing Nonu, we have been given a taste of who could possibly fill their shoes.
Potential New All Blacks Centre Combo
Conrad Smith made his debut for the All Blacks back in 2004 and has since run out 79 times for his country. Due to his quick thinking and playing “smart rugby”, he has made the outside centre jersey his own in both the All Blacks and his Super Rugby team, the Hurricanes. Similarly, Ma’a Nonu made his debut for the All Blacks in 2003 and is reaching the 100 caps mark, currently sitting on 93. He has taken the inside centre role (or number 12 jersey) and is what many consider the brawn of the pair. Nonu is notoriously known for his behaviour on the field making him no stranger to red or yellow cards.
While neither seem to be slowing down anytime soon, it would be naïve not to think that the day is approaching when these two men will hang their black boots up and seek rugby elsewhere, perhaps in the Northern Hemisphere, if they decide not to retire altogether.
Realistically, the younger players are making their names heard and presenting a strong case as to why they should take the field in the place of these older, more experienced players. Two of these players are Crusaders Ryan Crotty and Highlanders star Malakai Fekitoa.
Ryan Crotty made his debut for the Crusaders back in 2009. Occupying the number 12 jersey, he has built up his reputation and playing style to the point of holding the captaincy for much of the 2014 Super Rugby season due to regular captain Kieran Read being out with injury. Crotty is the type of player that fits the mould of what the All Blacks represents so when he eventually made his national debut in 2013, it was a move praised by many supporters, myself included.
While the 25 year-old has been pushed to the outside centre position when Daniel Carter returned to rugby and the Crusaders (slotting into the inside centre spot), his true position is that of number 12, making him a logical replacement for Nonu. Ironically, Crotty plays a similar game to Smith, playing smart rugby and effectively instructing his fellow back-line players into position. Saying this, if the tackles need to be made, you can’t claim Crotty backs down from an opponent. His eagerness has unfortunately cost him for the time being as he is currently out for up to a month with a broken jaw bone.
With the “brains” sorted, it is important to find a perfect fit that can make the plays and make the connections to successfully deliver the ball to where it needs to go once the game plan has been decided. This is where Malakai Fekitoa raises his hand and steps up to the plate.
At just 22, his future is both long and bright. After signing with the Blues in 2013, Fekitoa was unable to make his debut due to not being selected during the season. But after moving over to fellow Kiwi franchise the Highlanders in 2014, he is a regular name on the starting list and a player to keep your eye on. Tipping the scales at almost 100kg and standing just over 6ft 1, he is a daunting figure ready to find the gaps with his speed or create them himself. Fekitoa is a player that is cool under pressure and has the ability to learn quickly, recognising possible weaknesses in his game and making the changes immediately. These are two huge factors boosting the appeal of Fekitoa.
While it may seem like a simple fit, nothing about this team can ever be simple. Fan favourite and Highlanders star Ben Smith is someone looking to cement himself within the All Blacks in one position. Having filled the wing position, inside centre and fullback, the decision is still out on where the 28 year-old best fits in. Most supporters, or “experts” as a lot of fans tend to think of themselves, can agree that fullback is where they feel he shines the most.
This creates some awkwardness considering Israel Dagg fights tooth and nail for that spot, very rarely underperforming in it. However, as a player who performs best in open space play, the wing offers him far more opportunities to showcase his pace and skill in comparison to fullback.
Saying this, there is some who firmly believe he is to inherit the number 12 jersey once the day finally arrives that Conrad Smith is to hand over the coveted spot. To be fair, there isn’t a position this man can’t fill but I personally believe he won’t be someone vying for the centre positions unless it is the only way for him to pull the black jersey on.
At the end of the day, this is all speculation while Smith and Nonu continue to play. It will only become a reality when the positions start making themselves available. But I am of the firm belief that Crotty and Fekitoa are going to become the new centre pairing and carrying on the success of the great players they are looking to eventually replace.
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