'Different gravy' - Fans claim Aaron Smith's performance against Crusaders shows he's better than Faf
The Highlanders final 40-20 scoreline loss to the Crusaders at home didn’t reflect the quality of the effort shown by the home side.
Under the roof at Forsyth Barr, the Highlanders and Crusaders engaged in a furiously paced derby that offered a thrilling contest.
Pulling the strings for the Highlanders was Aaron Smith, making the most of the fast surface to dial up the tempo for the home side. It was such an impressive display from the All Blacks 9 that many fans were willing to re-give him the title of world’s best.
The performance was summed up by a passage of play in the first half where Smith snatched a loose line out throw at the back of the line out and broke through the line past the tail.
Finding a support runner, Smith was there to recycle the next ruck at a rapid pace while the Crusaders were still reeling.
His quick recycle freed the Highlanders backs and allowed Ngane Punivai to score in the corner.
Fans described Smith as ‘different gravy’ and as an ‘unbelievable player’ while claiming that the old Aaron Smith is back and every other 9 in New Zealand will have to prepare to ride the bench.
Aaron Smith is an unbelievable player. #HIGvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa @Te_Nug @AllBlacks @Highlanders ? ??
— Hywel Daniel (@HywelDaniel) July 4, 2020
Aaron Smith is simply the best in the world right now, the guy is just machine. WOW! #HIGvCRU
— MVELASE (@SimoMthembu) July 4, 2020
Old School Aaron Smith is back. Sorry scrumhalves in NZ, enjoy the bench at best in black…. He thrives in this Highlanders squad #HIGvCRU
— Cornflake (@CornflakeBTP) July 4, 2020
Aaron Smith in the form of his life right now, makes his opposite number look average #HIGvCRU
— Ben (@BencerasaIe) July 4, 2020
I know what you're saying about Faf Dr Klerk but Aaron Smith is the best scrum half in the world. #HIGvCRU @SkySportsRugby
— Sam (@itsonlysamh) July 4, 2020
Aaron Smith has to be best 9 in the world #HIGvCRU #superrugby
— Ben Gledhill (@recruiterguynw) July 4, 2020
You don’t realise how good Aaron Smith is until he plays in a team not stacked full of All Blacks #HIGvCRU
— Ezy (@jasant88) July 4, 2020
A phenomenal passage of play. Again, Aaron Smith orchestrating things for the Highlanders. No excuses for that missed try. #HIGvCRU
— Matt Gretton (@mattgretton1) July 4, 2020
What a game! #HIGvCRU. Aaron Smith is different gravy. #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Nigel Burke (@nigelburke11) July 4, 2020
#HIGvCRU supreme game the glue that held it all together well played Aaron Smith
— Gary McMurray (@MacGman3) July 4, 2020
The 20 point margin isn’t a fair reflection on how close the game actuallywas. Highlanders are very entertaining to watch. Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell both very good. In a game of small margins I think that Mo’unga tackle was a real momentum changer. #HIGvCRU
— Ciaron Noble (@CiaronNoble98) July 4, 2020
The Highlanders were still in the match at halftime down 17-14 but failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity only five metres out when Jonah Nareki failed to pass early enough with a guaranteed try on offer.
They were still in the match only down 26-20 until two tries in the final five minutes sealed the match for the Crusaders.
Given the way Smith was playing, it wasn’t lost on many fans that the decision to take him off with the game still in the balance may have been a pivotal call for the Highlanders. One fan called the decision ‘bold’ but also ‘wrong’ at the same time.
So Aaron Smith was taken off and it went from a 4 point deficit to a 20 point loss. #HIGvCRU pic.twitter.com/GAzpnF21xy
— Such Is Life…. (@EnslinMavunga) July 4, 2020
Taking Aaron Smith off with 10 mins to go, you're only down by 6, and he's been your best player all night?!
Bold af and wrong af. Smh #HIGvCRU— Reggie ? (@theweekdaez) July 4, 2020
Think Aaron Smith coming off is the "live to fight another day" move from the Highlanders, they're struggling to get out of their own 22. Just 6 points off but they haven't looked like scoring for about 20 minutes #HIGvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Rhys Knott (@buck_mitchell) July 4, 2020
Wtf why Aaron smith they need his experience these last 8 min #HIGvCRU
— s0ñI_C_? (@Soni_siI) July 4, 2020
The loss was the Highlanders’ second successive after going down to the Blues by 3 points in a fighting effort last week against the Blues.
Following their opening win against the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa, hopes were high that the Highlanders may have turned the corner despite a 1-4-1 start to the regular Super Rugby season.
The road ahead in Super Rugby Aotearoa doesn’t get easier with two away games against the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, both currently winless and desperate to get off the bottom of the Super Rugby Aotearoa table.
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