1
Watch: Magician Aaron Smith sets up two sublimes tries for Highlanders in opening quarter of Rebels battle
At 32 years of age, Aaron Smith is perhaps in career-best form and has at times almost single-handedly won matches for the Highlanders throughout 2021.
ADVERTISEMENT
His sublime skills were on full display in the opening 20 minutes of the Highlanders’ clash with the Rebels in Sydney on Sunday evening, with the 97-cap All Black playing a massive role in his side’s opening two tries.
In fact, it took just two minutes for the ‘home’ team (despite the match being played in Australia) to nab their first score of the night, with midfielder Michael Collins eventually dotting down near the posts.
It was the product of a deftly weight box kick from halfback Smith, who popped the ball onto the boot from a lineout maul near the Rebels’ 22.
The ball hit turf in front of the posts and Collins was on hand to snaffle the ball in a tussle with Rebels fullback George Worth.
? The Highlanders aren't letting a change in time and venue slow them down – dotting down in the first five minutes against the Rebels – LIVE NOW on Sky Sport 1! pic.twitter.com/Eig9m9qp10
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) May 30, 2021
Up by seven with barely any rugby played, the Highlanders weren’t going to take their foot off the pedal – and from a Shannon Frizell steal just inside the Highlanders’ half, the New Zealanders struck thanks to some exceptional interplay between backs and forwards.
Smith fed the ball to wing Jona Nareki who danced through a pair of Rebels in the middle of the park before offloading to young loosehad prop Ethan de Groot.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 22-year-old then threw a one-handed offload to Smith who was able to almost instantaneously slip the ball to hooker Liam Coltman.
From the ensuing ruck, the ball was quickly spread through the hands to the right touchline where Patelesio Tomkinson stepped around Marika Koroibete and dotted down for the score.
From Frizell’s steal, eight further Highlanders were involved in the try, with Smith getting three touches of the ball.
Absolutely sensational from the @Highlanders. Bravo.
?: @skysportnz #HIGvREB #SuperRugbyTT pic.twitter.com/R7Agl6lGdt
— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) May 30, 2021
It was an excellent touchdown and one that highlighted the excellent ball movement that New Zealand teams are so famous for.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite rushing out to a 14-0 lead, the Rebels fought their way back into the game and trailed by just two points at the halftime break.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments