New Zealand's Ben Smith Moves To Centre

Despite making a prolific start to his New Zealand career on the wing with 12 tries in 21 matches including eight in the 2013 Rugby Championship, Ben Smith is set to play the rest of the season at outside centre.

But is this the right way for the All Blacks to go, as they prepare for Autumn Tests against Australia, Japan, England, France and Ireland?

He will replace namesake Conrad, who is taking a sabbatical, so the opportunity is there to give somebody an opportunity in a key position ahead of the 2015 World Cup, and Conrad's eventual retirement.

"The All Blacks have always been blessed with great outside backs (wingers and fullbacks), but I wonder how Ben Smith will go at centre," asks Talking Rugby Union's Southern Hemisphere rugby correspondent Scott Donaldson.

"He has played there briefly, but do you move a player who has been on fire in one position to a different position? He scored eight tries in the Rugby Championship 2013.

"The key is if the difference in performance between Ben Smith and the next best centre around (Francis Saili) is greater than the difference in performance between what Ben Smith would offer on the wing compared with his replacement (Cory Jane), then this would be a good move."

He adds: "New Zealand rugby is short in some positions like hooker and centre, therefore I think this makes Ben Smith the best option to play at centre."

Such a move would open the door for Cory Jane to return to the wing when he recovers from injury or offer young stars like Frank Halai or Charles Piutau the chance to play on the wing.

But what are the other options? Perhaps unsurprsingly, there are a few.

Ma'a Nonu could switch from 12 to 13 with utliity back Tom Taylor or Dan Carter slotting in at 12. A less experienced player like Ryan Crotty or Saili would also be options for the number 12 slot if Nonu was moved.

"I think Ma'a Nonu is better at second five eighth and doesn't have the vision and distribution skills that either Conrad Smith or Ben Smith possess," Donaldson says.

There is yet another option. The return of Sonny Bill Williams has been making headlines and either he or Richard Kahui could come back into the side after time away, but Donaldson has some reservations.

"My only concern is following the All Blacks when selectors tried to fabricate a centre by moving the great Christian Cullen and reliable Leon MacDonald into the Number 13 jersey to fill the void. 

"These were both unsuccessful and denied us the opportunity to see these two great players in their best positions at fullback.

"Tana Umaga made a better fist of moving from the wing to the midfield, allowing space for great outside backs to play outside him."

New Zealand have a long and rich history of producing and developing world-class wingers and fullbacks but a key question is whether your goal should be to get your best players onto the pitch no matter what position they are playing.

Assuming the answer to that is positive, Donaldson thinks moving Ben Smith to 13 could be right way to go.

"In this case I think Ben Smith is the best option to replace Conrad Smith in the midfield while hopefully Francis Saili also gets some game-time in the midfield."

But what do you think? Start the discussion below or tweet us @TalkRugbyUnion