‘Was great for Aaron Smith’: Highlanders great reacts to ‘amazing’ win over Reds

With the clock ticking ever closer to full-time at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night, it seemed that Aaron Smith wasn’t going to get the swansong finish the legendary halfback deserved.

Playing his last home game in Highlanders colours, Smith watched on from the bench as the Reds took a late 28-30 lead following a successful Tom Lynagh penalty goal.

But Oscar-winning directors and writers couldn’t have scripted the fairytale finish any better in round 14. Smith’s replacement, halfback Folau Fakatava, scored a dramatic winner with 28 seconds left on the clock.

While Smith’s decorated Super Rugby career isn’t quite over just yet, it was more than fair that the “most influential Highlander since professional rugby started” got to farewell the home crowd as a winner.

“It was amazing,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown. “It was a really, really good crowd down at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

“Up until that point, I was fairly frustrated, I won’t lie.

“The Highlanders and the Reds both admitted that they didn’t play very well. Clarke Dermody said they were ‘terrible.’

“But in terms of a moment, all was forgotten. Maybe not quite forgotten… it was great for Aaron Smith. It was a remarkable turnaround in the game.

“The most influential Highlander since professional rugby started.

“He’s led and changed the script for the Highlanders, led them to a title in 2015.

“I think he and Ben Smith created something that will hopefully last forever down in Dunedin.”

The match-winning score in front of ‘The Zoo’ at the Dunedin venue highlighted the very best of what sport has to offer.

While it was Aaron Smith’s night, the Highlanders were desperate for a win – and it was Smith’s successor-to-be that delivered a moment of individual brilliance.

In that moment, the baton had well and truly been passed on from one legendary halfback to the man who is set to make the No. 9 jersey his own at the Highlanders for the years to come.

The Highlanders now sit in eighth place, and control their own destiny heading into the final round of the regular season.

But they “still need a number of things to go their way.”

With 11 teams in the playoff hunt, a loss to the high flying Blues at Eden Park on Friday could bring their season to a disappointing end – and officially draw the curtain on Smith’s Super Rugby career.

“The Highlanders still need a number of things to go their way,” Wilson added.

“I would be disappointed if the Chiefs didn’t send their very best side to Perth,” Wilson quipped. “No I don’t expect them to do that.

“The Force at home are good… and well coached.

“The Rebels on Friday night, they take on the Brumbies. They’ll put it in their own hands as well.

“Fiji Drua have got the Reds at home.”

The New Zealand derby between the Highlanders and Blues in Auckland is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST on Friday at Eden Park.