How Aaron Smith and Sam Whitelock's connection has come full circle
While Aaron Smith may have clocked up his 100th game for the All Blacks on Saturday evening, it was captain Sam Whitelock who led the side onto the park – with Smith following close behind.
In some ways, that’s been the story of the two men’s careers.
While Whitelock has played all his professional rugby in the Canterbury region, the 32-year-old was born and raised in Manawatu. Aaron Smith may have also moved south, to represent the Highlanders, but he too was reared in the Manawatu and continues to represent the Turbos in provincial rugby.
If being born in the same area wasn’t curious enough, the only two current All Blacks centurions even attended the same school.
Following Saturday’s 33-25 victory over the Wallabies, Smith reflected on the journey the pair have undertaken – both together and apart – since first attending Feilding High School in the mid-2000s.
“We talk about it all the time, ending up in the same group class for our whole high school years,” said Smith. “It’s pretty surreal.
“I always knew Sam was going to make it, he was a schoolboy star and the man. I can’t believe I even said that but it’s true. But yeah it’s surreal. From little old Feilding.
“I remember it was actually the open day, we were both year 8 and I yelled out, I was like ‘Are you going to come here bro?’, and he’s like ‘Yep!’, and I was like ‘Sweet, see you next year!’ And then we were in the same group class and played all our rugby together.”
Almost 20 years later, the pair are playing together for the All Blacks, with Whitelock first progressing into the side in 2010. It’s not the first time that the former classmates have represented New Zealand side by side, however.
“I made my first New Zealand team with him in Under 20s and really got a taste of it there and I’ve always loved watching Sam play, I was really proud of him when he made the All Blacks in 2010,” Smith said.
“I was really proud when he won the World Cup in 2011. The longer my career went, I was like, it’d be pretty cool to try reconnect.”
It's wasn't a vintage performance from the test centurion in the opening stages of the match – but there was a reason for that. #AllBlacks #NZLvAUS #BledisloeCuphttps://t.co/Siu7uakio4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 8, 2021
Smith followed into the national set-up soon after, debuting against Ireland in 2012 in the same series that Julian Savea, Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano and Beauden Barrett also earned their first caps.
Smith and Whitelock were key players in the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup triumph and now, they’re the two most experienced players in the squad.
“We’re the two old heads in the team – me, him and Colesy,” said Smith. “They call us koro [the Maori word for elder] or grumpy, all that stuff.”
Sam Whitelock was named captain of the All Blacks this season in the absence of the injured Sam Cane and Smith was handed the captaincy mantel for the first time in the second test of the July series when Whitelock was rested.
While the two have been teammates for the All Blacks, they’ve also gone hammer and tongs as rivals during Super Rugby – sometimes as opposing captains.
Smith revealed that he has often looked to Whitelock – the more experienced leader – to guide his own development and ahead of this year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final, Whitelock even called Smith to provide some advice for the Highlanders’ clash with the Blues.
“Sam’s a real inspiration for me,” said Smith. “He’s a great leader.
“In the last couple of years, being a captain at the Highlanders, I’ve really leaned on Sam and even to show the class of the man, the week of the final vs the Blues, for their team to miss [out on the finals] and then him to ring me on the Sunday to give me tips shows the true worth of the guy and our friendship. He’s a great captain and someone I aspire to be like and just grateful for our friendship.”
Whitelock and Smith are both signed with New Zealand until 2023 and expected to play big roles at the next Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
12 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.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments