But it seems you can take the boy out of Wellington but you cannot take Wellington out of the boy.
Smith is a fan of Forsyth Barr Stadium and will relish the dry track to move the ball but he feels the game should still be played in all elements.
"To be honest, I think there is a place for wet and windy football, especially in the capital. Training, I would love it [the stadium], but I think there always should be a mix of both," Smith said.
"The one game I had here it was particularly fast. I'm sure the South Africans will enjoy that and will burn some lungs."
He said the noise in the covered complex was very loud when he played for the Hurricanes against the Highlanders, and was something the All Black side would have to adjust to on Saturday night.
"Just the noise we had in that game. Obviously, it was not a full stadium, and was not the All Blacks. So it will be louder and that will be something we will have to deal with come Saturday night.
The All Blacks got their first taste of the pitch at Forsyth Barr Stadium with a training run at the ground yesterday morning.
The side was supposed to train at Carisbrook but with wind and hail lashing Dunedin opted to head under the roof.
Balls were flying high at the stadium yesterday, and the facility will undoubtedly suit the high paced game favoured by the All Blacks.
"It [the stadium] will influence the game a lot. It is nice to know that it [weather] is not going to be a factor and it is chance to play some open footy.
It is underrated how beneficial it is to have no wind, rain or moisture to contend with. That will make it particularly enjoyable," Smith said.
He turns 31 next month and is itching to be among the action after more than a month out of the game because of an eye injury.
He made a comeback last week against Argentina and looked at home in the All Blacks midfield, beside his old mate Ma'a Nonu.
He is looking forward to taking on the South Africans on Saturday night, as the side continues to work towards that perfect performance.
"The opposition has a lot to do with that. They have as much to do with our performance as the conditions. We handled them [Argentina] well early on but we adapted better as the game went on.
"We just have to make sure we deal with the Africans immediately and get our game under way.
"You like to think we have a fair idea how most teams play and how to deal with it. In some ways, that is the strength of South Africa. Week in, week out, they play a similar way and we would like to think we could deal with that.
"We want to put the opposition under pressure, even if they know what they are doing. I don't think they are going to change."
Smith seems certain to be selected and will chalk up his 60th test on Saturday .
Injured All Black Ali Williams was put through some training drills under the watchful eye of All Black coach Steve Hansen yesterday, as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
Williams had an operation on a knee after the second test against Ireland in June and has yet to return to the playing paddock.
The All Blacks will name their side tomorrow morning, and have a day off today.
The Springboks are to arrive in Dunedin tomorrow morning, after training in Auckland over the past few days.
They are due to name their team today.
