'I went and watched Game of Thrones with him last night' - Why Aaron Smith backs Ben Smith to make speedy recovery
Highlanders and All Blacks star halfback Aaron Smith is backing his teammate and co-captain Ben Smith to make a speedy recovery from the hamstring injury he sustained against the Chiefs on Saturday night.
Smith, the 32-year-old fullback, may have played his last game for the franchise of which he debuted for in 2009 after straining his hamstring after falling awkwardly in the tackle of Chiefs loose forward Luke Jacobson during the two side’s 31-all draw at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The injury is expected to rule him out for between six to eight weeks, meaning he might not feature for the side again this year should the Highlanders fail to qualify for the play-offs in six weeks’ time.
However, Aaron Smith is providing his long-time Super Rugby and international teammate with as much support as possible, and believes the 76-test veteran could come back sooner than expected, in similar fashion to how he returned to action two weeks ahead of schedule after straining his ankle against the Blues in March.
“I went and watched Game of Thrones with him last night and made sure I got around him,” Smith told RugbyPass in Dunedin on Tuesday.
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“He’s a good mate of mine and I just went and checked on him and he seems good, he was icing his leg and he’s already in that mindset that he’s going to be back quicker than six to eight [weeks], so positive for him.
“These things, you’ve just got to look at them in a positive light. It’s a big blow for us, but, as I said, that’s rugby, and we [have a] ‘next man up’ kind of mindset, but we’ll still need Bender’s influence off the field as well.”
Aaron Smith played an integral role in the opening hour of the Highlanders’ performance on Saturday, assisting three tries with his rapid yet accurate passing game before being pulled from the field around the hour mark.
That performance followed another noteworthy outing a week beforehand against the Sunwolves in Tokyo, his second match and first start since returning from injury, but the 30-year-old said he’s still building towards his peak form.
“I’m getting there. The first start in Tokyo was great, it’s just the game time and being able to be back to that full match fitness – it’s coming,” he said.
“I’m working really hard on and off the field and trying to get my body back, but my leg’s responding really well to training at the moment.
“I’m pretty much 100 [percent], which is great, but the ankle’s holding up good.”
Both he and the rest of the Highlanders will hope that he is at 100 percent fitness as the southerners prepare to host the Jaguares this Saturday on the first leg of their four-match Australasian tour.
The Argentines are renowned for their traditionally forward-orientated style of play, but the Highlanders could look to use Smith’s lethal passing game to run them off the park, especially if he continues his rich vein of form.
“Yeah, hopefully,” he said with a laugh when asked if his passing game would again be used as a weapon to dismantle the Jaguares.
“I think they only arrived today. We know how hard it is to travel to Argentina and play, and how much the flight takes the juice out of you, so they’re coming here, we’re the first game of their tour, and we’re pretty desperate to put last week’s result [behind us] and make sure this week’s a better one for us.
“I think we’re pretty determined and hungry to put out a performance that our people deserve this week.
“My role in this team is to play at speed and fire the ball out and there’s no excuses here to throw any bricks with dry ball, so hopefully I can do my job and do it really well.”
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
46 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments