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All Blacks hand shock recall to Aaron Smith ahead of Ireland test
Veteran halfback Aaron Smith has been handed a shock recall into the All Blacks squad ahead of the side’s clash against Ireland in Dublin this weekend.
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The All Blacks confirmed on Tuesday that Smith will rejoin the squad as injury cover following a three-month absence after Brad Weber failed a head injury assessment and broke his nose while playing against Italy in Rome last weekend.
Smith hasn’t played for the All Blacks since they beat the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park in Auckland on August 14.
The 101-test star was among numerous players who remained in New Zealand due to the arrival of their respective children when the All Blacks departed to Australia for the Rugby Championship later that month.
At the time, New Zealand was in a nationwide lockdown due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant, bringing a pause to the trans-Tasman travel bubble it had with Australia.
As such, a two-week quarantine was required upon entry into Australia and upon return to New Zealand, leaving Smith out of action for the entire Australian leg of the Rugby Championship.
Smith was joined in New Zealand by Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga, both of whom were also expecting children, along with injured veterans Sam Cane and Dane Coles and loose forward Shannon Frizell.
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Unlike Smith, though, Whitelock, Cane, Coles and Frizell, as well as debutant lock Josh Lord, linked back up with the All Blacks in the United States in the first leg of the current end-of-year tour last month.
Mo’unga, meanwhile, joined up with the squad in Queensland following the arrival of his second child, but only played in a cameo appearance off the bench against the Springboks in New Zealand’s only Rugby Championship defeat in Townsville.
Given that his second child wasn’t due until November and the high-demand for spots in New Zealand’s MIQ facilities, Smith wasn’t expected to play at all for the All Blacks for the remainder of the year.
Instead, the 32-year-old, who is widely-regarded as New Zealand’s premier halfback, turned out for Manawatu in the NPC, making two appearances for the Turbos in their run to the Championship semi-finals.
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However, Weber’s injury – the severity of which will be determined by an “independent concussion specialist”, according to All Blacks assistant coach Scott McLeod, this week – appears to have coincided with the arrival of Smith’s child.
Former All Blacks have taken aim at notorious prankster Daniel Jarvis and a Welsh fan for their pitch invading exploits over the weekend. #AutumnNationsSeries https://t.co/t5LJjU7imx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2021
That, in turn, has paved the way for Smith to travel to Ireland, where there are no quarantine restrictions, and France, where double-vaccinated Kiwis don’t have to quarantine, to challenge TJ Perenara and Finlay Christie for the halfback role over the next fortnight.
“I’m very excited to come back and join the boys,” Smith said in a video released on the All Blacks’ social media pages.
“Two very big games for the lads, which is really exciting to be a part of. I’m just looking to try and help where I can, bring a bit of energy.
“The boys have done so well, and it was great to watch them, be a fan from afar, but, deep down, knowing I’d love to be there as well.”
Smith said his call-up only came after he was given the blessing of his wife Teagan, and he maintained that he has no expectations of game time in Europe.
“Since my boy’s arrived, Teagan [Smith’s wife] was all for it. It was a pretty short conversation. She was like, ‘Go, this is a great opportunity for you’,” he said.
“I’m going in with no expectations with playing or anything, but I’ll be trying to do my best to impact where I can.”
Smith added that his departure from New Zealand wasn’t an easy one, but remains upbeat about the prospect of being part of the All Blacks squad once again.
“It was pretty tough at 4:45am saying my goodbyes, but feeling grateful for Teagan, who blessed that I’ve got to go and that, ‘There’s an opportunity for you to finish the year’.
“I’m happy, excited, but a little sad, but I think I’m here, excited to join the team and ready. Just can’t wait.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments