Wayne Smith praises Dam Parks and expects real test

ALL Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith is renowned as one of the most analytical thinkers in modern rugby, so when he speaks of an opponent having shown real signs of improvement, it tends to be more than the usual pre-match diplomacy.

Smith was New Zealand's head coach in 1999-2000, with Tony Gilbert, the former Border Reivers coach, his assistant, and after three years at Northampton, he returned to work under Graham Henry in 2004.

One area where Smith is invaluable to the team is the analysis of opposition sides, his studies of players and coaches, and how he believes his charges can nullify threats and expose weaknesses.

The Kiwi players as ever were generous yesterday and spoke politely of their respect for Andy Robinson's team, but admitted they knew little yet about them. Smith, however, acknowledged: "I have spent a fair bit of time between the Tri Nations and now looking at Scotland's last seven games - the Six Nations and what they did in Argentina - and the differences in their game.

"Obviously, we don't know who is going to play yet, but we know most of their players. In 2008, they played a really expansive game against us, with (Ben] Cairns and (Nick] De Luca in midfield. They spread everything and were quite a handful actually. Then they went into the Six Nations and seemed to put that game away, but the laws suit going back to that now and we've seen a lot more of that from them in the past six months.

"Their latest results point to that (improvement] for a start - they beat Argentina away from home in two Tests, which is significant, and they drew with England and beat Ireland, away again, so they are building nicely. Scotland have a big pack and some big backs with the Lamont brothers and Morrison; they are quite a physical team. From a long way out we've seen improvement in Scotland."

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Smith played stand-off for New Zealand, and was No 10 when the Kiwis hung on for a 25-25 draw at Murrayfield in 1983, one of many in black who prayed for Peter Dods, the Scotland full-back, to miss the last conversion to leave the match all-square. As a coach, however, he prefers the present and was quick to acknowledge the threat that a rejuvenated stand-off in Dan Parks would provide in this Murrayfield encounter.

He compared Parks' style of game with that of Paul Grayson, the kicking-orientated England cap whom Smith coached at Northampton, and insisted: "So long as they're able and have the right mental approach you can do anything with them. Guys with good co-ordination like Dan Parks I think you can get to play any sort of game."

Smith has no truck with anyone who suggests the All Blacks to be impregnable.He even insisted that the reason why they will field a stronger XV against Scotland this weekend than two years ago was not out of greater respect but a drop in world-class talent at their disposal, not least through the migration of Kiwis to English and French rugby.

He said: "Compared to the past where we had a huge amount of players at Test match level we haven't got so many this time so our selections are reflecting the fact that the game's going to be a big challenge.

"Previously, it wasn't anything to do with respect or disrespect; it was to do with the numbers of Test-hardened players we had available. At one point we had 35 of them and in every position had world-class players, and it just made sense to us to give them all rugby, and they stood up to the test as we won games in Europe using totally different XVs.

"But there's no way we can do that now - you've got too many of our players over here."

Smith would give no hints as to his starting XV, which will be named on Thursday, and, in assessing his new opposite number as backs coach, Gregor Townsend, he added: "With Gregor in charge anything's possible - expect the unexpected!"