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‘He called it’: Aaron Smith predicted dream end to final Highlanders home game
Aaron Smith really can do it all. The legendary halfback is one of the greatest Highlanders of all time, but Smiths’ knowledge, skill and understanding of the sport goes beyond the field of play.
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Having played 184 matches for the Highlanders and counting, Smith will go down in history as potentially the Dunedin-based franchises’ best-ever player.
Smith played a key role in the Highlanders’ maiden Super Rugby title in 2015, and will leave a long-lasting legacy at the club when his playing days are over.
Beyond that, Smith is also widely regarded as probably the greatest halfback to have ever donned the coveted All Blacks jersey – if not the best No. 9 that the world has ever seen.
Smith is that good.
But call him Nostradamus, because the man known as ‘Nugget’ can officially see things on the rugby field before they happen.
Playing in his final Highlanders home game at Forsyth Barr Stadium last weekend against the Queensland Reds, Smith watched on from the sidelines as the visitors took a late lead.
The Reds were up 28-30 with five minutes to play after a Tom Lynagh penalty goal, and appeared set to win their first match in Dunedin since 2013 – and end the Highlanders’ season.
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But Folau Fakatava refused to throw in the towel.
It was all over…
…then Folau Fakatava came through for the @Highlanders at the death!
Watch the whole frantic final 10 over on YouTube https://t.co/i0zXnR0vDg#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/uGhwRfv0Ik
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 29, 2023
The replacement halfback raced through a gap between Mac Grealy and Jock Campbell down the short side, and scored the match-winning try with 28 seconds to play.
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Highlanders playmaker Mitch Hunt later revealed that Smith had told one of his teammates that Fakatava was “going to catch someone slacking off” before it happened.
“It’s pretty awesome and he’s been that guy a number of times over the last few years,” Hunt told RugbyPass.
“Whether he’s been starting or coming off the bench late, he’s someone that just seems to keep finding those gaps or picking on guys that are just napping a little bit.
“He’s one to look out for this weekend too with that type of style.
“I think Aaron, once he went off and he was on the bench, he must have leaned over to one of the boys and said, ‘Folau’s going to catch someone slacking off here’ and almost called it a few minutes before.”
With the match in balance, Smith was replaced by Fakatava in the 67th minute. At that stage, the Highlanders were trailing by six points.
The All Black had done all he could, and had been replaced by his heir apparent in front of a vibrant Dunedin crowd.
“Pretty cool that we’ve got Aaron to start a game and Folau to come and finish. I’d say probably Aaron owes him the beer I reckon,” Hunt added.
“I think he said he called it just before it happened, that Folau was gonna catch someone slacking there and that’s exactly what he did.
“That’s a pretty cool moment as well.”
This year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign hadn’t quite gone to plan for the Highlanders, but they’re still in “control of our own destiny” heading into the final round of the regular season.
Currently sitting in eighth place on the ladder, a win a round 15 over New Zealand rivals the Blues would book their place in the next stage.
But a loss could eliminate the Highlanders – other results would have to go their way, with another three teams vying for that final spot in the playoffs.
“The positive heading into this week has probably been our last two weeks. With the nature of our season and where we’ve sort of left ourselves, the last won weeks were really… treated as playoff games.
“We’ve sort of been in a little bit of that mindset for the last couple of weeks.
“The way our last two games finished, traditionally we may have lost tight games like that as the Landers over the last few years.
“I think we take some great confidence out of knowing that in those tight games, the last few weeks we’ve been able to finish. That’s been great, we’ve treated them like finals.
“If we win we go through, if we lose there’s still a chance but then it relies on everyone else.
“We want to take control of our own destiny and we’re going up there to win, as tough as it may be heading up to Auckland.”
The match between the Highlanders and Blues is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Huge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
217 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
8 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
42 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
42 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
3 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
217 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
217 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
42 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
42 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
217 Go to comments