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'One of the best to ever do it' - Twitter reacts to Aaron Smith becoming the most capped Highlanders player of all-time
Highlanders scrumhalf Aaron Smith made history on Friday night, becoming the most capped player in the clubs history with his 154th appearance.
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Smith is now the outright leader for that an honour, after surpassing former Highlander and All Black Ben Smith, who played 153 matches for the Dunedin-based Super Rugby side.
Aaron Smith has had a decorated career while playing rugby in New Zealand, having won both the Super Rugby title and the Rugby World Cup in 2015. He’s also the most-capped All Blacks scrumhalf of all time, having donned the black jersey 97 times in test matches.
Individually, he’s regularly impressed at all levels for his quickness to the breakdown, and the accuracy of his passes. He’d still be considered by many rugby fans to still be one of, if not the best halfback in world rugby at the moment.
While the result didn’t go the Highlanders way at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday, it didn’t rain on his parade after the match.
As you can see in the video below, Smith seemed quite emotional as the Highlanders, led by other co-captain in Ash Dixon, performed a Haka for the 32-year-old.
Thank you to my boys for this special moment! I’ll never forget ??? https://t.co/VsHf5LH6VH
— Aaron Smith (@Te_Nug) March 26, 2021
Following the match and the presentation for Smith, both Highlanders coach Tony Brown and co-captain Ash Dixon commented on Smith’s achievement.
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Brown said that Smith has “been amazing for the Highlanders and been amazing for the All Blacks”, while also adding that he’s “one of the best players” that New Zealand has had.
Interviewed on the field after the match, Dixon also praised what Smith has managed to achieve while playing for the Super Rugby side.
“That guy is a machine mate, what he does during the week, I can’t even begin to explain to you. He just loves the game, loves the Landers, and his mindset is to be better every day,” said post-match on Sky Sports NZ.
“Full credit to what he’s done for the Landers but there’s plenty more in him, and he’s going to keep going and getting better. Gutted we couldn’t get the win for him but I know he’ll come out swinging next week and it only gets tougher. “
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Fans and players alike have also gone to social media to applaud Smith for his achievement. People also seemed particularly taken aback by the Haka as well.
Congrats on the milestone uso
— Jack Lam ?? (@LegOfLam) March 26, 2021
congrats on your long way !! and still going toko ???
— Ueleni FONO (@uelenifono) March 26, 2021
Congratulations @Te_Nug ? ?
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) March 26, 2021
Sums up all that is good about Rugby in general, NZ Rugby in particular and kudos to a wonderful player.
— Michael Marlowe (@mikemarlowe6) March 26, 2021
Something about a haka that gives me goosebumps. Everytime!
— Kagiso (@kcmoilwa) March 26, 2021
One of the best scrum halves to play the game. He has raised the bar in recent years. Thoroughly deserved.
— Martin ?? (@karmas_burning) March 26, 2021
Smith is in my top five scrum halves of all time. Legendary
— Siya Masuku (@SiyaMasuku) March 26, 2021
One of the best to ever do it ??
— ? (@Sizwelethu10) March 26, 2021
Legend ?? Great servant to the Highlanders
— Simba VC (@DrMswagga) March 26, 2021
Congratulations Aaron Smith. The greatest Highlander and the best halfback in the world. #HIGvHUR #SuperRugbyAotearoa @SuperRugbyNZ @Highlanders
— Graham Farmer (@gravyonsports) March 26, 2021
Very, very, very well deserved.
— Marcos Fierro (@fierro_marcos) March 26, 2021
Congratulations on the milestone Nuggy. Best Half-back in World Rugby by far
— Andrew Nesta Lubinda (@akalubinda) March 26, 2021
Congratulations from the ??
You’re a legend.
— TZCollective (@CollectiveTz) March 26, 2021
Earlier this month, Smith re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, keeping him at the Highlanders and at the Manawatu Turbos until 2023 on his current deal.
“I guess I have to adapt and work a little harder than I did back in 2011, but one thing that hasn’t changed is my love for the Highlanders, the All Blacks and Manawatu,” he said.
“The decision to stay is based on a number of things, but I’m very keen to see the Highlanders do well, we have a good environment here and some great, young players, so I think the next few years will be exciting for us and it’ll eb great to be part of it.”
The Highlanders are currently placed last on the Super Rugby Aotearoa ladder, but equal on points difference with the fourth-placed Hurricanes. They’ll face a tough test next week though when they face the undefeated Crusaders in Christchurch.
Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments