Why has Conrad Smith been replaced at centre?, we were just starting to develop a good combination with Nonu!?

Question

Why has Conrad Smith been replaced at centre?, we were just starting to develop a good combination with Nonu!?

Answer 1

Because Graham Henry is a moron that is why.

He chops and changes things and to h**l with any continuity.

Smith may not be powerful or fast but he is a good defender and has alot of guile.

Henry still does not pick the best players, Deans has picked players on form whereas arrogant Henry could not pick his nose.

If we lose this game we will not win the tri nations so why not pick the best team now?

Answer 2

In my opinion

Smith is a solid option at 13, nothing special though he does have his moments

Kahui is a potential superstar, he’s 23 and he seems to have everything. By the time the next world cup comes around he could very well be the number 1 in that position in the world. All he needs is game time and better luck with injuries.

The only thing keeping smith in that position was the injury towards the end of the super14 and the relative inexperience of Kahui.

I think behind the scenes the coaches will have been working closely with Kahui on his fitness and his game. I think he was chosen to make the step up against Australia because his size, strength and speed advantage over smith gives him more of a chance to cut down Stirling before he takes a 2nd step, Which is something Kahui is pretty good at.

Answer 3

It may be because the centres are usually not covered with specialists on the bench, so there is less opportunity to build depth there than in other positions.  Clearly Kahui is also good enough to play test rugby.

Answer 4

After the way Kahui played on debut he deserves a 2nd chance against better opponents in my opinion.

Answer 5

I feel real sorry for Smith. He's never played a bad test match and has been in great form lately but yet again has been left out of the starting 15. Although I believe Smith should be starting I can't understand why they have selected him as specialist cover for centre bench as there is plenty of other players in the squad who can cover centre such as muliani, tuitavake yet there is no cover for  fullback -  so there is no logical reason why we have a specialist center on the bench, maybe it was purely because they felt bad about the way they've treated smith!

Answer 6

cause nz want all the backs to be samoan casue they are fat

Answer 7

Mortlock is out of the Aussie side, so the AB's need a faster man to keep an eye on Ryan Cross and Timana Tahu off the bench.

Answer 8

henry is looking for the best player for that position,,,,

Answer 9

Nonu and Smith's combination is awesome. Smith's my favorite player and i wandered the same thing because i wanted to see him play. I dont think he's ever played Australia...like Nonu.

But Henry already made that change before Mortlock was was ruled out. He blooded Muliaina at centre against Mortlock and is probably looking to do the same with Kahui and with Conrad Smith with his bad run of injuries we might aswell sit him down a week and develop Nonu and Kahui's Combo...

Henry is good and i support the AB's with or without him. But when he's STUPID i understand what you guys are talking about.

Answer 10

The FUTURE - Thats the reason Kahui is there, Conrad is a solid journeyman type player, Kahui has silky skills & compliments all the others in the back-line who like to attack with the ball.......they don't look fat to me.....well mabe Sione needs to lose a coupke of kgs....but the AB's look solid & where unlucky to lose in Dunedin.....in my opinion anyway.

Answer 11

I was wondering that myself, maybe rotation? I think the blacks will roll the aussies in this game, most teams don't play well one week after playing so maybe henry thought, rest smith this game and he will be sweet fot the rest of the tri-nations. Just a theroy.