All Blacks ageless wonder Ben Smith is defying history with vintage year
Just twelve months ago, Ben Smith’s career was teetering as a series of concussions threatened to prematurely end it, only months after re-committing to NZR.
A crossroads presented when the then-30-year-old’s contract was coming up for renewal at the end of the 2017 season. In February of that year, he re-committed to the Highlanders and NZR with a two-year extension, famously choosing Speights over Champagne in his unique announcement video.
The commitment was one made with heart in mind – love of family, his Highlanders and the black jersey. The homegrown hero was staying put in the Deep South and aiming towards another World Cup campaign.
The decision was honourable for more than just those reasons – at 30-years-old Smith would be stepping into rather unchartered territory for an All Blacks outside back.
The short-lived lifespan of All Blacks wingers is well documented – Julian Savea became another in a long list to leave at just 26-years old, following others like Doug Howlett (29), Joe Rokocoko (27), Rico Gear (29) and Sitiveni Sivivatu (29) to not reach their thirties. Even the great fullback Christian Cullen was out of the All Blacks fold by 26-years old.
The rise of professionalism has seen players last at the international level well into their thirties, but few outside backs have yet to achieve this.
A dual international wing-fullback like Smith, Cory Jane played his last test at 31-years-old and Israel Dagg last donned the black jersey as a 29-years-old. All Black Centurian Mils Muliaina ended his career during the 2011 World Cup at 31, Leon MacDonald at 30 in 2008.
At the time of inking a new two-year extension, history was already against him. Shortly after the excitement of securing his future, 2017 quickly became a year from hell.
Two concussion injuries during the start of the Highlanders campaign started the year badly, before a fall in the first test against the Lions at Eden Park was thought to be a gut-wrenching third in just a few months.
He failed a head injury assessment and did not return.
“You hear of guys that have had to give up the game,” he later revealed on Amazon Prime’s All or Nothing documentary.
“You worry that you’re not going to be able to do something you love.
“I hope to play for as many years as I can — and hopefully for another three or four — but my most important job is being a dad and husband, and the scariest thing is that if something was to happen and I wasn’t able to do that.
The possible third concussion was later diagnosed as an inner ear problem to Smith’s relief. What could have been a sixth knock in the past five years sparked speculation he might opt to retire, but Smith returned to the All Blacks fold to play two Bledisloe tests, before opting to exercise his sabbatical clause to take a non-playing break.
A horror year at the worst possible time still left a dark cloud over Smith’s future as he headed off to take time out, but his break was hardly a holiday.
The fullback was back at work, relentlessly training, turning up to Highlanders pre-season despite being on a sabbatical. Footage of Smith turning up to Highlanders facilities to do yo-yo tests surfaced on social media. This was a man possessed, not taking a moment for granted.
What has transpired on his return this year is possibly one of the most remarkable seasons by any player in the game, ever.
At 32-years-old Smith has not only returned to the All Blacks, but he has also been arguably their best player with age-defying performances in a vintage season. He now stands alone in the professional era as the oldest All Black fullback and hasn’t missed a beat.
In nine tests he has played 96 percent of all minutes. He has racked up 507 running metres but it is his agility and elusiveness that is truly astounding – on 35 carries he has made 20 line breaks, beating 32 defenders in the process.
Over half the time he has run he has opened up the opposition and is beating someone on just about every carry. Smith is showing no signs of fatigue or deterioration athletically, with ability in test rugby not seen before by anyone his age in his position.
Longevity is seen as a pre-requisite to all-time greatness and Smith’s high level of play is impossible to ignore. The case is there to be made that this the All Blacks greatest fullback, (if not then winger), of all time.
When the All Blacks 2019 World Cup campaign kicks off next year Smith will be 33-years-old. If he can make it, which looks likely, he will be pushing a new frontier for All Blacks fullbacks.
If for some reason he doesn’t, this comeback has truly been one for the ages and Smith’s 2018 year should still be remembered as one of the best.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ever so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt 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.
28 Go to comments