What does New Zealand's greatest-ever halfback's new contract mean for Folau Fakatava?
Aaron Smith’s re-signing with New Zealand Rugby will be applauded by all and sundry – and rightly so.
Smith is perhaps the greatest halfback that New Zealand has ever seen. The speed and accuracy of his pass is second to none, his fitness is exceptional and there are few better than instructing and motivating a forward pack than the man affectionately known as Nugget.
There’s understandably some concern surrounding the All Blacks taking three ageing halfbacks to the next Rugby World Cup, with no obvious long-term replacements as yet, but few will have issues with Smith wearing the No 9 jersey come France 2023 if he’s still performing to the same level that he is today.
Given that the 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down in recent times, it’s looking more and more likely that Smith will be New Zealand’s premier halfback for a third world cup running.
Against the Crusaders on Saturday, it was a trademark pearler of a pass from Smith that gave Shannon Frizell the space to dive over for the Highlanders’ first try of the night.
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If Smith can continue to offer up the ball on the platter for his teammates as he did in that moment, then the All Blacks will travel to France with one of, if not the best halfback in World Rugby – though Antoine Dupont may have something to say about that.
What does Smith’s re-signing mean for the rest of the No 9s across New Zealand who are eyeing up a potential spot in the national side?
In short, it means that there won’t be any free passes.
TJ Perenara, for all his talents, is not in the same league as Smith when it comes to the core responsibilities of a halfback. Neither is new Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber. They’re fantastic players, but the next young No 9 with a bullet pass and pace to boot would fancy their chances of quickly scaling the ranks and taking over as New Zealand’s first-choice – much in the same way as Smith did in 2012.
Smith earned a call-up to the All Blacks just one year after he made his Super Rugby debut and in his first season wearing black, he cemented himself as the then-world champions’ starting halfback.
High praise from All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith. ? https://t.co/AgLOfR7QCT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2021
It was a meteoric rise, but Smith was competing against the likes of Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu – players less known for their pace and delivery and more respected for other aspects of their game.
That’s the situation that New Zealand would again be going through in a post-Nugget world and while it worked out well in 2012, there are no guarantees. Competition breeds success and with Smith staying on, the nation’s up and comers know that they’ll need to be at the top of their game in order to usurp the king.
And while NZR’s re-signing of Smith should be applauded, it should also be somewhat expected.
Yes, Smith could take an off-shore offer and chase the money – who would begrudge him that after almost a century of caps for the All Blacks? Realistically, however, when New Zealand fell to England at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Smith likely set his sights on redemption – and that can only come in France in two years’ time.
So then what about Folau Fakatava, the man that many hope could take over from Aaron Smith one day?
If Fakatava wants to be an All Black, he has three options.
If he stays at the Highlanders, he has to either perform so well off the bench that Ian Foster and the All Blacks coaches can see his talents and readiness for international rugby, even if he’s not a Super Rugby starter, or he has to ascend even further, and actually knock Smith off his perch. Is that latter option likely, given the limited minutes that Fakatava will again be faced with for the coming three seasons?
Smith managed it, taking over from Cowan at the Highlanders in 2012 – but we’ve already covered the differences there.
"Speed is the great strength of Smith’s game. Why, then, would you ever replace that guy with TJ Perenara?"
– Hamish Bidwell says the All Blacks halfback selection needs to be reviewed if they want the backs to fire. #AUSvNZL #TriNations #BledisloeCup https://t.co/yn5mVM354y— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2020
The alternative, of course, is to take his wares elsewhere.
Who, amongst the New Zealand teams, could use a man with the undeniable potential of Fakatava?
We can probably rule out the Chiefs and the Crusaders, who are well stocked with experienced options as well as some up-and-coming stars. Even if the likes of Brad Weber or Bryn Hall call time on their NZ careers, there are others who have been biding their time who are ready to step into starting roles.
That’s not to say that Fakatava couldn’t force his way into a No 9 jersey at either team – but it’s difficult to imagine that the Chiefs or Crusaders would be willing and able to really commit to the transfer when there are other positions that need better bolstering.
That leaves the Blues and the Hurricanes.
Fakatava, of course, has made a name for himself with Hawke’s Bay in the Mitre 10 Cup and there will forever be questions regarding how the Hurricanes let the prodigious talent slip from their grasp.
TJ Perenara is set to return from Japan next year and will be hoping to resume his place in the No 9 jersey but behind him, the cupboard is a little bit bare. Jamie Booth is the next cab off the ranks, but there’s no telling how significantly he’ll be impacted by the serious knee injury that’s keeping him off the field at present.
This year’s current crop, Jonathan Taumateine, Luke Campbell and Cam Roigard, are all inexperienced players who could develop into stars but they’re certainly not sure bets.
Fakatava, in the space of less than a year, could be the starting halfback in Wellington. Certainly, he’d have greater luck seizing power from Perenara than uprooting Aaron Smith.
The @HurricanesRugby team relied on TJ Perenara to shift into the first receiver role in the latter stages of matches last season. That means they have lost more than just a very good halfback. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #HURvBLUhttps://t.co/9yOoncgx0Y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 25, 2021
Further north, Fakatava could have an even cleaner run at things, with Finlay Christie, Sam Nock and Jonathan Ruru sharing duties in the No 9 jersey at the Blues without any of the trio ever really locking it down.
Then there’s the wild card option – Moana Pasifika. Fakatava represented the composite Pacific Islands side in their inaugural fixture against the Maori All Blacks last year and could thrive in an environment that specifically caters to Pasifika players. Fakatava was born and raised in Tonga, only moving to New Zealand in his mid-teens, and would no doubt appreciate the cultural benefits of linking up with a side that should be joining Super Rugby in 2022.
In short, however, Fakatava is realistically in exactly the same position he was prior to Smith’s signing. He knows that it’s going to take something special to take over from the current All Blacks No 9 and all signs already pointed to Smith continuing his legacy with the Highlanders.
For Fakatava, the brief hasn’t changed. Bide his time, and throw everything into the opportunities he gets off the bench in 2021.
With Aaron Smith signing on until the end of 2023, it’s probably fair to expect that his term in New Zealand and with the Highlanders is now coming to a close. He has almost three years to prepare for what will likely be his All Blacks sign-off and you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll be doing everything he can to get his nation over the line come the next Rugby World Cup.
Smith has nothing left to prove, however. In over a century of matches for the Highlanders, and not many fewer for the All Blacks, Aaron Smith has shown the breadth and depth of skills that most professional halfbacks could only dream of possessing. Whatever happens in the coming years, Smith will sign off as New Zealand’s greatest-ever halfback – and perhaps the best that the world has ever seen.
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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…
2 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!
2 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