All Blacks: Smith set to return against Argentina

Conrad Smith. Photo / Getty Images

Conrad Smith is in line to make a comeback for the All Blacks in their next test against Argentina, after two months out of the game recovering from eye surgery.

Should the centre get a medical warrant of fitness, his return will dovetail with the exit of Sonny Bill Williams, who left the All Blacks for the second occasion in recent months, this time for a rugby contract in Japan.

"We always knew that was the timetable and with Sonny going it's not a bad swap," coach Steve Hansen said.

Smith would not play any ITM games for Wellington as a tune-up for the test. The medical timetable for his return prevented that.

"We are confident in his fitness. He has proven before that he can come straight back in and do the job, so that's what we will be doing," Hansen added.

Lock Luke Romano and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock will also need medical clearances if they are to front for the All Blacks in a fortnight against the Pumas in Wellington.

All Black management were confident that Romano, who took a hit on his already damaged shoulder, and Woodcock, who was recovering from a rib cartilage problem, would be cleared when the side regroups this weekend in Wellington.

Hansen had taken in Argentina's 16-all draw with the Springboks in Mendoza yesterday and felt the hosts were unlucky not to beat their rivals for the first time.

They had not veered much away from the ferocious close-combat work that had been a regular hallmark of their play and swamped and pressured the Boks, who needed a charge-down to claim a late converted try for the stalemate.

"Argentina will be really physical up front and they will play that bash game they did against the Boks," Hansen said.

"They were like two big rhino bulls and hopefully they will have taken a fair bit out of each other, but I can't imagine them wanting to play an expansive game.

"They are more comfortable using their forwards and that's what we will expect, but I guess we will have to plan for the other as well."

By contrast the All Blacks want to play a fast-paced, expansive style, which suits their extreme fitness levels and troubled the Wallabies again at Eden Park on Saturday.

The All Blacks asked a lot of questions but found only one try-scoring answer as the visitors' gritty defence and some sloppy finishing stopped them tallying a serious score.

Those issues could be fixed and Hansen said he wanted every team he coached to be multi-skilled in each position. He liked forwards to do their basics but also be involved in sweeping attacks.

"If you've got guys who can scrum really well but also catch and pass, then it's a bonus and that's what we've got at the moment."

Wallaby wing Digby Ioane noted how the All Black forwards had increased their range of skills and he credited Williams for introducing those to the New Zealand scene.

"I've just never seen their forward pack play as backs," Ioanesaid.

"They've got so much skill they dominate us in every way. They can punish you not just one-on-one, they can offload like Sonny Bill does, so that really cut us into pieces."

Several All Blacks have been released to play for their provinces in the ITM Cup this week. They are:

Julian Savea and Victor Vito for Wellington v Hawke's Bay, Tuesday; Charlie Faumuina and Piri Weepu for Auckland v Canterbury, Wednesday; Sam Cane for Bay of Plenty v Otago, which will include Tamati Ellison, Ben Smith and Adam Thomson, Thursday; Wyatt Crockett for Canterbury v North Harbour, Saturday; and Andrew Hore in Taranaki's Ranfurly Shield defence against Tasman on Saturday.