KEY POINTS:
Sidestepping. It is a rugby art-form the French have mastered perhaps by the daily dodging of dog litter, which pollutes their city streets.
All Black centre Conrad Smith showed similar traits yesterday as he tiptoed around questions about selection for the side's World Cup campaign start against Italy
on Sunday.
With a knowing smile, he said he had not been told whether he would be having his first test start of the season.
His escape clause was probably somewhere in the fine print, something a trained lawyer like himself could find.
But on the evidence of the initial hit-out in Marseille, it seems Smith will partner Luke McAlister in midfield in what must be close to the best XV coach Graham Henry and his selectors can choose when they announce their side today.
The Auckland pair, Doug Howlett and Keven Mealamu, appear to have won the nod ahead of Sitiveni Sivivatu and Anton Oliver, while the rest are all entrenched selections.
Smith said he had no indication about team selections but the smile, agonising answers and the squirming body language suggested otherwise. "No, not really," he said. "As a player you can pick up things at training, but not too much so far," he added.
A year ago, Smith was making a comeback in France, similar to his expected return this weekend.
Last season a broken leg interrupted his year, while eye-socket and hamstring injuries have eaten into his test time this season.
Smith gave a solid performance in the All Blacks' 47-3 rout of France last year at Lyon and, by the end of that trip, he was rated the premier centre by Henry, ahead of Ma'a Nonu.
With Smith lowered by injury this year, Isaia Toeava handled most of the work at centre. He showed some strong progress but Smith is now being given a repeat chance to show he is the best choice for later in the tournament.
Adrenalin helped Smith conquer his lack of match fitness in Lyon and he expects a similar situation if picked this weekend.
"It is something I have always found at tests I have had, that the whole hype gets you up, takes over the preparation.
"The games I have played, I have always enjoyed rather than feeling pressure."
Dealing with long-term injury was always difficult but the coaches had kept faith in him and encouraged him through his rehabilitation. "The toughest thing about being injured and you don't get the chance is seeing the team playing and you feel like you are losing ground but you just have to put up with as best you can.
"Worrying about it won't get you anywhere."
Smith said the first practice at the Stade Bouin ground had gone well, a session everyone completed except injured lock Keith Robinson whose calf injury confined him to skill drills.
"It was pretty tough, a lot warmer than it is any time of the year in New Zealand so it is a bit of a challenge but I think the boys got used to it by the end. It is something we have talked about obviously. It will be something new but I am sure the boys are all in good nick to handle it."
Smith said he was about 95kg, the heaviest he had been and with other encouraging statistics felt in the best shape of his career despite his lack of matchplay.
