Rugby World Cup: 10 reasons Ben Smith is the most valuable All Black

Ben Smith's so handy on his feet he almost always beats the first defender. Photo / Brett Phibbs

1. He epitomises the values this squad believes it is built on. He's shown incredible perseverance to finally nail a starting spot and connected to that is a deep loyalty to the jersey, having turned down a lucrative overseas offer in 2013 to stay in New Zealand for four years. What's most impressive, though, is that he has become a global superstar on the field while remaining the same person off it.

2. In a back three loaded with speed and finishing power, Smith provides the balance - it's his assured work under the defensive bomb that limits the attraction of kicking to the back three. The All Blacks have always had a lethal counterattack, but they haven't always been able to launch it because they haven't always had back three players that are aerially competent.

3. Smith is the man who makes the All Blacks' tactical kicking as effective as it is - because he is one of the best chasers and takers of offensive high kicks. Against France, it was Smith who on numerous occasions chased well-placed bombs, got up higher than the opposition and retrieved possession. A good kicking game is only as good as the chasers.

4. It's not just the number of offensive kicks Smith retrieves - it's the inspirational nature of his work in that area that lifts the entire team. His take at Millennium Stadium when he robbed No 8 Louis Picamoles in mid-air created a feeling that anything was possible - that there was magic in the air.

5. It's hard to recall Smith making a mistake in the last four years. Certainly not a major one anyway. His decision-making is exemplary and that breeds confidence and ensures the All Blacks are rarely playing deep inside their own territory due to an unforced error.

6. Smith leads the tournament in metres gained which doesn't mean so much in itself. What that statistic doesn't show is how swiftly he covers that ground. One of his key weapons is the speed at which he takes the ball back to the onrushing defence as it means he gets closer to his forwards before he meets contact. They don't have so far to track back and the ball is rarely turned over.

7. His strength and footwork are so good that he can beat the first defender, almost without fail. That's almost too hard to put a value on because the All Blacks have shown that if they can breach the gainline and keep the ball alive through the first contact, their offloading game ignites. Smith is regularly the man who provides the attacking spark to build the first phase of attacking momentum.

8. His defensive positioning and cover tackling are rock solid. He's also strong enough to make head-on hits when he has to and get off the line to shut space down when he feels he needs to - as a last line of defence there's no one better in the world game.

9. He's comfortable coming up to play first receiver which is a huge part of the All Black game plan. The fluidity and speed of their attacking game is such that they can't be successful with just one playmaker. They need two - and Smith has improved out of sight in this area and it is helpful that he has played a bit of club rugby at No 10.

10. The ease with which he can switch to the wing late in the game gives the All Blacks an array of attacking options that they can inject from the bench. They can put Beauden Barrett on at fullback - which gives them two playmakers and two kickers - and use Smith's aerial skills to chase Aaron Smith's box kicks.