Rugby
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All Blacks ready for Israel Folau; at ease with aerial laws

Rugby, Rugby Championship

All Blacks fullback Ben Smith is preparing for a high-flying Bledisloe Cup battle with Israel Folau, but the veteran custodian feels there's nothing complex about rugby's aerial laws.

Folau's one-match ban, for making mid-air contact with Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony in Sydney earlier this year, ignited debate about rugby's aerial laws. Folau suggested at the time there had to be more clarity about the issue, for him and other players around the world.

The controversial topic is likely to come up again in Saturday's first Test at ANZ Stadium.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is expected to keep Folau at No.15 despite the temptation of shifting the superstar to outside centre, while the hosts are expected to continue the Folau-focused tactic of short kick-offs.

"I just think you have to make good decisions," Smith said on Monday when asked if there needed to be more clarity about aerial rules. "Really good decisions. Because if you don't quite get that right, we've seen over the last few months that you can spend time on the sidelines.

"It all happens quickly ... it's just down to reactions and making sure you're aware of situations. (Knowing) when you can go up and maybe if you're not quite making it there on time, to let that guy go up."

Folau, regardless of where he is on the park, looms as of the Wallabies' most potent threat as they bid to stop the All Blacks' 16-year run of trans-Tasman dominance. The 29-year-old's incredible vertical leap has been his calling card since bursting onto the NRL scene as a teenager at Melbourne Storm.

Smith suggested New Zealand had done their homework and were ready to curb the influence of his opposite number.

"We've got a couple of plans around that," he said. "It's awareness that it's coming and being aware of where he is on the field.

"It'll be part of the game and we'll look to get up and shut those down. It's going to be an area that we're going to have to make sure that we put time into and have a good plan around because they have got some good guys that are pretty sharp aerially."

Folau crossed for a first-half try in Brisbane during Australia's 23-18 win over New Zealand in Game III last year. Smith suggested that result, along with the Wallabies' performance in the second Test of 2017, showed why his world No.1 side couldn't be complacent.

"They're a very good team and beat us in Brisbane. We were probably lucky to get away with a win in Dunedin ... we know the threats they've got across the park," he said

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