KEY POINTS:
Recalled centre Conrad Smith is a pragmatic man. Sensible, calm, organised - the list of descriptions could go on, which perhaps underlines why the All Black panel recalled him as soon as his groin injury cleared.
Smith is the backline glue, someone with a strong radar and instincts and just the person to bring the best out of provincial partner Ma'a Nonu. The pair have played the bulk of this year's All Black programme together where Smith's influence has drawn the best out of his colleague.
They resume that partnership tomorrow against England in the final test of the tour with Smith deflecting any talk about the All Blacks sauntering to victory and a third Grand Slam.
His response was succinct.
England had not been expected to perform well in the last World Cup after being trounced in their opening match by the Boks, but they went further than the All Blacks, got to the final and almost claimed the trophy. They may have lost successive tests to the Wallabies and Springboks but they would be even more determined to rectify those performances.
"We have probably got them at a bad time and I think that is all that is talked about," Smith said. "We know ourselves when you come off a big loss - we got thrashed in Aussie - and we came back. We played not maybe clinically but we were ready to go a week later, and we beat Australia pretty impressively and a week can be a long time in rugby.
"We are aware of that and that is all we have talked about so far. We have not talked about anything more than beating an English side which is going to be very fired up."
Such composure is why the national selectors, Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, returned to Smith ahead of the talented, exciting promise of Richard Kahui. Smith's mistake rate is very low, his organisation and leadership strong while the others respond well to his guidance.
At some stage he may tangle with former teammate Riki Flutey, who is making his way into test rugby in the midfield for England after serving out a three-year qualifying clause. The pair played in the same teams in New Zealand and have stayed in touch.
"I think Riki will be very pumped up," Smith said. "I've caught up with him most years, he has come in to visit. It is never easy coming into tests so there will be a lot of pressure for him."
Smith said he did not want to second guess whether Flutey would feel the same emotional ties to England that Smith had for the All Black jersey.
The All Black centre also rejected suggestions that England were an easier side to defend in the backs than other Six Nations sides. They varied their play a great deal and were not a straightforward side to counter.
