The Northern Migration: Conrad Smith
Forget winning a World Cup or getting a law degree, Conrad Smith says learning French is the most difficult thing he’s ever done.
James McOnie spoke to Smith on a 2-degree day in the city of Pau (pop. 80,000), in the south of France.
Why did you choose to go to Pau?
A few reasons. I knew [head coach] Simon Mannix who’s the coach here and that was a big thing. The wife and I wanted to move to Europe regardless and we didn’t want to go to a big city. It’s worked out well so we stayed.
You’re near the Pyrenees. Do you enjoy the mountains?
It reminds us a lot of home, in Taranaki. It’s an hour from the mountain, it’s an hour from the beaches. Everybody skis. I’m not into skiing, it’s a bit risky in my line of work, but my wife skis. I’ve never attempted to ski but I’ll start when I finish playing.
How’s the family enjoying French life?
We’re loving it. We’ve got a French daughter, Amelie she’s 10 months now. It’s a cool place to live with a family, especially in this part of France. There’s a lot of childcare services. School starts when they’re three – and lunch is provided. Most people here love having young families.
I love the movie Amelie. Was your daughter named after that?
A little bit yeah. We wanted a French name and that one popped up. We’d watched the movie and I also knew the name from Amelie Mauresmo, the tennis player. And we wanted to make sure our New Zealand family and friends could pronounce it.
You spoke French to me when I called. You seem reasonably fluent.
I try. I’ve had a lot of lessons. It’s easily the most difficult thing I’ve had to do. I enjoyed the challenge and I always wanted to learn a language.
Even now I’m probably at the stage where I’m moderately confident – I’ll still get lost in some conversations but at least I can ask for what I want.
Our son Luca started school in September and now he’s pretty much fluent… which is slightly annoying. I try to speak French to him and he doesn’t want a bar of it.
He corrects me when I try to join in on the nursery rhymes and songs. Whether it’s Mum or Dad, we’re told we’re not singing it right.
Did you not learn a language at Francis Douglas College in New Plymouth?
From memory I don’t think there was one on offer. I know now it’s compulsory for schools to offer a language. But I think the French teacher had just left so we couldn’t.
What were you like growing up?
I was an outdoorsy kid, and I enjoyed school, I was a pretty good student. Between sport and homework I was pretty busy. I played pretty much every sport I could – basketball, tennis, cricket, rugby and touch. It kept my parents busy.
When I got home the sport didn’t stop. I’ve got two older brothers, and we’d playing cricket in the large double garage downstairs, the classic basement. The lawn was too steep to play sport on, so we’d bowl from the driveway into the garage where you’d bat. It was quality. You had to get the height right otherwise you’d hit the top of the garage doorway, you couldn’t get any flight – you had to bowl fast.
Your brother Nathan is a top sportsman, a Paralympic cyclist – tell me about his story.
He had an accident when he was living in London. It was the same year I debuted for the All Blacks in Rome (2004). I hadn’t seen him after the accident until after my debut.
Anyway he’s a much better cyclist with one leg than I am with two. He ended up going to the Paralympics in London and the world champs. It’s really impressive.
Nathan is a pharmacist in Taranaki. He’s just bought a pharmacy in Stratford.
Were you good at rugby at school?
Yeah I was handy, but I had white boy syndrome – I didn’t grow. I played halfback for the first XV and then I shot up after my first year of university.
I played colts at Old Boys University [in Wellington] in my first year and that’s when I first played in the midfield. And then the following year they picked me in the premier side and that’s sort of where it all started. We had four Super Rugby players in the backline – Paul Steinmetz, Jason Spice, Shannon Paku and Tanner Vili – they all made me look good. It was a great education for me. I made New Zealand Universities, that was my first representative team, and I made Wellington Colts later that year.
You’re old enough to remember playing regular senior club rugby. Are you concerned young stars coming through don’t experience that?
It’s just a reality. It was good for me back then but there are different pathways now.
I loved my club, I played 50 games for OBU. We used to still celebrate our clubs with the All Blacks. We’d all have to wear our club jerseys on one day you’d have to get up and talk about your jersey. Those traditions aren’t being lost.
It was Wayne Smith’s idea and it was carried on by us older guys in the team.
You played 94 tests over 11 years. What was the key to staying in the All Blacks?
Just always challenging yourself – never being happy with the way you’re playing, and finding things to do differently. I never felt comfortable in my position. I looked at the talent around New Zealand and I thought I was in trouble if I didn’t try to evolve and add to my game.
Have you noticed that everyone seems to be able to throw amazingly difficult passes now, but people still have trouble with easy passes?
It’s a nice point. The offload is a massive part of the game but I agree there’s a still a place for simple passes and the ability to do that under pressure. That’s not practiced enough in my opinion. That’s the hard part – doing something well under pressure.
What are the differences between French club rugby and Super Rugby?
The length of the season – we’re together as a team literally for 11 months. Everyone says the game is slower and that’s true to a point, but there are other factors. The winter is harsh – some games called off because of snow – but mainly it’s impossible to maintain a high intensity for that length of time. Super Rugby was a sprint – you drop one or two games and it’s almost over.
There are eight Kiwis at Pau. How is that possible? And do you have any French players?
It seems incredible but we’ve only got one South African and one Aussie so there are plenty of French players. Most French clubs would have a similar make-up of foreigners and Frenchmen. It will be harder for foreigners to play here soon. Currently 14 players per 23 on your team sheet have to be French. But it’s going up to 16.
With so many Kiwis in the backline, do you call the moves in French or English?
We’ve still got French names for moves. The rugby language is pretty similar.
Sometimes there’ll be Tom [Taylor], Colin [Slade] and myself on the field and we might just speak English in the heat of the moment but we try and speak French.
You’ve said this is your last season. Then what?
We’re really keen to stay in France so we’re looking opportunities, with the club and elsewhere. I did do a law degree once and I did say I’d like to use that one day.
You once told me you’d like to run sport in New Zealand. Is that still an ambition?
Potentially. I’m happy here just getting experience. I’m not a big planner. I don’t know where I’m going to be in 5 or 10 years’ time. We’re happy here in France. I’m looking at sport and law and seeing where it takes me.
Comments on RugbyPass
Says much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
3 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
23 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments