Wallabies to target rookie All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa
New Zealand forced to call up inexperienced centre after veteran Conrad Smith left the squad to be with his expectant wife
The Wallabies say they will target rookie centre Malakai Fekitoa as they set out to end 11 years of Bledisloe Cup misery against the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday.
New Zealand look likely to make a late and crucial change to their team with 77-cap midfielder Conrad Smith returning home on Friday to be with his expectant wife.
Smith, 32, ranks alongside skipper Richie McCaw and centre partner Ma'a Nonu as the most experienced All Blacks and his loss could prove decisive.
We understand it’s a new player who will come in – Fekitoa – and you’ve got to try out those areas and see what you do
Coach Steve Hansen said Smith's wife, Lee-Ann, had been due to give birth to the couple's first child in several weeks' time, but that the pregnancy had advanced.
"It looks like she's going to come a little bit early ... she started showing signs last night," Hansen said. "If it goes really well, he could possibly be back. But we're not holding our breath on that."
The world champions have promoted 22-year-old Fekitoa into Smith's place as a precautionary measure.
The All Blacks are equal with the 17-test winning runs of the 1965-69 New Zealand team and 1997-98 Springboks and are chasing a record-breaking 18th consecutive victory.