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Aaron Smith: 'I'd love nothing more than to have a go against Dupont'
Aaron Smith’s continued absence from the remainder of the Rugby Championship will rob the world of a great battle between two of the best scrumhalves in the game when the All Blacks square off with the Springboks – and no one is more disappointed than the man himself.
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New Zealand and South Africa will do battle in their 100th test match next Saturday, with the game originally set to be played in Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium – Smith’s home ground for Super Rugby.
Because of the re-emergence of Covid in NZ, however, the game has been shifted to Townsville in Australia and will be played as a double-header alongside the clash between the Wallabies and Pumas.
All going to plan, Smith would be facing off with South Africa’s Faf de Klerk – a key component of the Springboks’ win at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and one of the best halfbacks in world rugby.
Instead, Smith will be potentially lining up to play for Manawatu against Northland.
With Aaron Smith unavailable for the remainder of the Rugby Championship – and perhaps beyond – the coming months present a huge opportunity for TJ Perenara and Brad Weber. #AllBlacks
?? @TomVinicombehttps://t.co/psmIgs5Ciq
— RugbyPass+ (@RugbyPassPlus) September 14, 2021
It’s a loss for fans around the globe, but Smith is equally disappointed that the showdown with the Boks hasn’t transpired in the way he’d hoped.
“Obviously at the start of the year, we were hoping to play the Rugby Championship in New Zealand and see out my year that way,” Smith told media on Wednesday.
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With a child on the way, however, the situation became infinitely more complicated when the tournament was shifted to Australia, and there were no guarantees that anyone would be able to return to New Zealand on short notice.
“Obviously, with Covid hitting and the boys going to Australia and the unknown about being able to come back in time for the birth, I had to make a decision – and it was a pretty simple decision, to be honest.”
The opportunity to play against the world champions following their successful series victory over the touring Lions loomed as a fantastic opportunity for Smith to test his abilities – but that now won’t be the case, with Smith remaining in New Zealand.
Aaron Smith is unlikely to play for the All Blacks again this year – but the test centurion says that could be a "blessing in disguise". @Te_Nug #AllBlackshttps://t.co/h1xcB6dLVb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2021
“Playing against South Africa itself – not saying it’s just Faf – but playing South Africa, world champs, beat the British and Irish Lions, 100th test… All those things add up to a point of just amazingness,” he said.
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“That’s been taken away from me and that’s ok … It keeps me hungry to make sure I get to face these guys again. That’s how I see it. It’s given me a bit of energy, thinking about it.”
There’s also a chance that Smith could miss the entirety of the All Blacks’ tour to America and Europe, with his newborn not due until mid-November, and the tour set to begin in late October.
Should that be the case, Smith would also miss out on facing off with France’s Antoine Dupont, the man that some say has taken his mantle as best in the world. The 32-year-old isn’t ruling out a return to the fold in time for the All Blacks’ 20 November kick-off with Les Bleus.
“Who knows? If things go well, I could hopefully get over to the end of year tour and I’d love nothing more than to have a go against Dupont,” Smith said. “He’s probably the best halfback in the world at the moment. He’s outstanding.
“And hey, playing in Paris against the French, that’s a pretty awesome script. And also, that’s where the next World Cup is so those kinds of things, and building to things like that [are exciting].”
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There are a few bridges that need to be crossed before a surprise return to the All Blacks can take place, however – and it’s entirely dependant on the arrival of Smith’s new baby.
“The baby will come when baby comes,” he said. “There’s a hope there [that joining the tour is possible], I’m going to hang onto it.
“But I think I need to play some footy. If I can play decent minutes, play well enough and if Fozzy feels like it looks good enough to come over, I’d be happy to join. My wife’s already said that’s an option if baby comes early, that she’d be happy for me to go. So if that happens, I’ll jump at [the opportunity].”
Catch up on the latest discussion with the Aotearoa Rugby Pod:
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Hi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
3 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
3 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to comments