Aaron Smith reveals what Kieran Read said amid early Bok onslaught
Aaron Smith has revealed what All Black captain Kieran Read told his team during the first ferocious minutes of his side’s opening Rugby World Cup match in Yokohama.
Smith believes New Zealand’s 23-13 victory over South Africa is a statement win that reasserts the All Blacks’ World Cup supremacy.
Scrum-half Smith revealed a mixture of relief and pride in Saturday’s pulsating two-try win over the aggressive and pacy Springboks.
The 30-year-old conceded the All Blacks had entered the match “under pressure”, despite their status as back-to-back world champions.
South Africa beat New Zealand 36-34 in Wellington in September 2018, then the sides drew in the same city in July.
New Zealand have suffered their first two defeats ever to Ireland in the last four-year cycle, with first Wales and now Joe Schmidt’s men overhauling the All Blacks at the top of the world rankings.
The All Blacks’ gritty victory was a muscle-flexing reminder of their status as tournament favourites in Japan though, leaving Smith in a buoyant mood.
Asked if Saturday’s victory is a big statement, Smith replied: “Yeah mate, oh for sure, for us it was a game that was coming forever.
“Once the Rugby Championship was over and the team was named it was all about this game.
“It was a weird right now, it was such a build-up for me, it felt like a final.
The jury is in – how the All Blacks players rated in their World Cup opener win over the Springboks https://t.co/WbdmoXNeMD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
“And it was just such a great performance to be a part of.
“Emotionally it was a big build-up, and being out there, the heat, I’m really happy with how we performed.
“We’ve been under pressure a little bit, we had a draw in Wellington playing them, we’ve had mixed performances between now and the last World Cup.
“So it was really great tonight to win the little things that we really wanted to prove we could do well.
This from the @allblacks was special.#RWC2019 #NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/GqrUzD6GLO
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 22, 2019
“There’s still a lot for us to improve on, we’ve got a lot of points left in us, but our defence needs to keep improving.”
George Bridge and Scott Barrett claimed the tries that swept New Zealand to a potent victory, and one based on counter-attacking brilliance.
South Africa ripped into New Zealand from the off, only to slip off that helter skelter pace in the second quarter.
Smith revealed captain Kieran Read hauled in the All Blacks and told them to take a beat, reset and go again.
“Kieran Read just got us in and told us ‘just breathe’,” said Smith.
“We were all running around, too pumped up. So he said ‘take a breath, do what you need to do and make sure you execute in the next moment’.
“Defence is a way to show how much you love each other, and we really wanted a defence we know is going to be a big part of this tournament.
“If you can’t get hungry to tackle the South Africans, they will run over you all day. They still did run over us at times, but it was the little guys who did the damage tonight, they are unbelievable on their feet.
“So if you don’t get that right they will go round you, and if you don’t get your body height right on the big guys they will run straight over you.
“We showed a lot of heart, and at the breakdown, but defence is a mark of how much you want to do it for each other.”
– PA
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 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. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? 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?
13 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?
44 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 comments