Legendary centre Conrad Smith fears for the All Blacks against Ireland

Former New Zealand centre Conrad Smith is wary of Ireland ahead of their Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris and feels Andy Farrell’s troops deserve their tag as favourites ahead of the match.

As the country with the highest winning percentage in the history of Test rugby, the All Blacks find themselves in unfamiliar territory as underdogs ahead of the highly anticipated encounter.

However, Smith, who represented his country in 94 Tests between 2004 and 2015, feels his countrymen will have play out of their skins to beat Ireland, who will reach the semi-finals for the first time if they emerge victorious at the Stade France this weekend.

Not surprised by Ireland’s progression

“It hasn’t been a surprise when you look at the progression of Ireland and that team when you look at the last four or five years,” he told the Irish Independent.

“They’ve an exceptionally good side who have a great record behind them. Even at the start of this tournament, I felt Ireland and France were the best two teams. That’s been the way it’s played out.

“There’s been a few surprises with the other teams – and the gap between the top four and the rest, I’ve never seen that before at a World Cup. I didn’t expect it to be as big, that’s been a surprise.

“But the form of Ireland hasn’t surprised me, they deserve to be favourites. They’re a really, really good rugby team and it’s going to be a good match anyway.”

Ireland have been the number one-ranked team in World Rugby’s official rankings for more than a year now and they are currently on a 17-match winning streak.

Smith was part of a great All Blacks side, who won back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and who were the world’s top ranked side for most of the previous decade.

Although the All Blacks made a poor start to their World Cup campaign, courtesy of a loss in their tournament opener to France, they have bounced back with three impressive victories over Namibia, Italy and Uruguay, while head coach Ian Foster has been rotating his team.

At the same time, Ireland have maintained their winning form as they won all four their pool games – against Romania, Tonga, South Africa and Scotland.

However, Smith does not believe the teams’ form during the pool phase of the competition will be a factor when they meet.

“I don’t think it will matter, I’ve been in those positions,” he said. “At our World Cups, we had one where it was really difficult because you don’t play quality opposition and you worry about it. On the other side, you’d be battle-hardened.

“Both teams knew what it would be like going into it, it is what it is and they’d have prepared. They’re both in good shape, it just comes down to the 80 minutes. I don’t think the build-up will have an impact on the end result.”

‘Finding it hard to know what’s going to happen’

When asked about Ireland’s poor record at this stage of World Cups – they are yet to advance past the quarter-finals since the inaugural tournament in 1987 – Smith said: “I don’t know! As you can tell from my answer, I’m finding it really hard to know what’s going to happen. I think Ireland right now are the better team.

“I’d love to think the All Blacks have got one in us to get one over the Irish, but it’s a game that if it was played 10 times, the All Blacks could win three or four.

“And that’s what you do on these big occasions. I’m saying the same about South Africa v France. France are favourites, but South Africa have a chance to get one over them. It all depends on some pivotal moments in the game. And I hope they’re players’ moments rather than referees.”

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