‘Thank you Eden Park’: Aaron Smith farewells NZ’s home of rugby
When All Blacks and Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith ran off the sacred turf of Eden Park on Friday night, the legendary No. 9 received an ovation from the Auckland crowd.
With the game in the balance, and so too the Highlanders’ season, rugby fans in New Zealand watched on as one of the modern-day greats left the field for what could be the last time in Super Rugby.
But what is certain is that this will be the last time Smith plays at the famous venue for “the foreseeable future.”
The All Blacks won’t play at Eden Park this year, and will instead take their clash with rivals South Africa to Mt Smart Stadium due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Whether it was in All Blacks or Highlanders colours, Smith has celebrated some famous victorious at “the Garden of Eden” – but of course, much like Friday night, reflected on some painful defeats.
But shortly after the full-time siren, as the significance of the moment undoubtedly continued to sink in, the Test centurion couldn’t have been more grateful – saying “thank you Eden Park.”
“This is the Garden of Eden mate, this is an awesome place and I’ve had some great memories here with the Highlanders but a lot in the All Black jersey as well,” Smith said on Sky Sport.
“To not play here again, hopefully I can maybe.
“When I was driving up from the bus today it was emotions of, ‘Holy, this could be the last.’ Obviously you don’t know what the year holds but there is no All Black Test here either.
“Last year, I remember Fossie said to me too, ‘This could be our last time at Eden Park’ when we played the Bledisloe here.
“Tonight was obviously for the foreseeable future the last for me.
“I look back with a full heart, love playing here, and to get that little clap at the end, I sort of tapped the ground as I ran off to say thank you.
“We got a bonus point and that might get us a game in Hamilton next week.”
The halfback will leave New Zealand after this year’s Rugby World Cup after signing for Japan Rugby League One side Toyota Verblitz.
Smith will embark on a new journey with the Japanese club alongside long-time international teammate Beauden Barrett, who has also put pen to paper with the team.
The Highlanders announced the news more than 110 days ago, as they confirmed that Smith had signed a “long-term contract” with the Japanese club.
Since, Smith has experienced “a whirlwind of a season.”
“It’s been a whirlwind of a season for me. A lot of emotions,” Smith added.
“The goal has been, since we had a rough start, to make the playoffs and I’d love that one more week and I’d love to play the best team in the comp and give them everything.
“As I sit in the changerooms and the spa and that, I’ll be thinking about the good times that I’ve had here too. In a different colour jersey, I’ve drunk out of the Bledisloe here and I had my debut here.
“I was here for a lot of big games and this is a special stadium for me and I’ll never forget it.”
The Highlanders’ season hangs in the balance following their tough 16-9 loss to the Blues on Friday night.
Going into the final round of the regular season, the men from the deep south sat in eighth place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
A win at Eden Park would clinch a spot in the finals, but loss would take their playoffs hopes out of their hands – and end Smith’s legendary career with the Dunedin-based franchise.
But it wasn’t to be. The Highlanders were valiant, but fell short of the result that they so desperately needed.
“Well (the plan) was to make it ugly so it probably wasn’t a spectators, fan favourite.
“We wanted to kick it in behind, turn them around, make them run back in attack, and try and stop them on the break.
“Guys like Mark Telea, Rieko (Ioane) and that in open space are dangerous.
“I thought we had good periods of that but when they get in behind you and are able to build pressure, they just got through us twice tonight, that really gutted us.
“We wanted to kick down there, pressure them, and try and kick points like we did, but we needed to try and convert a couple of opportunities too.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments