Rugby: Veteran centre not done yet

Conrad Smith says he respects the Wallabies as much if not more than any other team. Photo / Nick Reed

Conrad Smith is determined to prove the doubters wrong as familiar national angst gathers momentum in World Cup year

Conrad Smith reckons, physically at least, he's got another season of test football in him, maybe even two or three. It's a bold statement from the 33-year-old who will turn 34 in the week of the World Cup quarter-finals.

Bold but also reassuring because in the wake of the All Blacks' last encounter at Ellis Park, Smith suddenly found a chorus of doubters questioning whether he's still got the goods to cut it at the highest level.

In a frantic and breathtakingly quick test in Johannesburg, South Africa's midfield of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel won the midfield battle against Ma'a Nonu and Smith. There wasn't much in it but the Bok duo had a dynamism and flow that wasn't quite matched by their vaunted opponents.

Perhaps inevitably, given Smith's age, more has been read into that one test than is strictly fair. The gist of the doubt is whether Smith still has the pace and agility to do the All Black No 13 jersey justice. Maybe it's time, seems to be the implication, that the younger, more obviously dynamic Malakai Fekitoa be given his chance at centre.

Having been an All Black since 2004, Smith knows that national angst is prone to rising in World Cup years. He knows that older players also come under intense scrutiny ahead of the tournament and he's quite happy to be subjected to a thorough examination.

Happy, because he's confident in his readiness. Happy because he says that despite his age, he hasn't lost anything physically. "They keep records about stuff like that and I know my times haven't changed," he says when asked whether he's lost even half a yard of pace over the years. "I haven't gone back. What you are getting is guys who are freakishly fast. But I have had that from day one. That is nothing different.

"I can honestly say I could play another two or three years. I have played more rugby in the last three or four years than I have at any other time in my career. When I was in my 20s, I was breaking down a lot more. It is funny how it works like that. For me it is purely personal choice. You can only do the same thing for so long before you are ready for something else."

Should Smith start in Sydney - and that is thought to be likely - he'll encounter a Wallaby backline with the individual and collective talent to provide a searching examination of his worthiness. Tevita Kuridrani has become one of the world's best centres in the past 12 months. He caused significant problems the last time he played the All Blacks in 2014 and the Wallabies were able to build momentum on the back of the space he created.

And then, of course, there is fullback Israel Folau - the most deadly broken field runner in the business and a player with the capacity to make any defence look flatfooted and disorganised.

"Kuridrani has been one of the form centres for the last couple of seasons I reckon," says Smith. "He's great with ball in hand and a capable defender, too. With Folau, a lot of his opportunities come from the ones you give him - and I am talking about our kicking. You obviously don't want to give him easy counter-attack opportunities because he's very good from that situation.

"You want to limit the ball their whole backline gets because they are all a threat. I have always seen them as a team who pose a lot of questions for a centre, defensively. I know I respect them as much if not more so than any other team we play against. They have always had a strong skill-set and it is going to be a great battle for us."