Smith keeps focus on the here, now
Ben Smith has never been one to give much away.
He probably reacted the same way to finding out he was playing his first game for Dunedin club Green Island as he did when he first made the All Blacks in 2009.
So it was no surprise when the 31-year-old All Blacks vice-captain didn’t show any emotion when discussing his final test match before he utilises the sabbatical clause in his contract.
Instead, the former King’s High School pupil sat in front of media in Dunedin yesterday with a steely focus, and maintained the only thing on his mind was helping the All Blacks clinch the Bledisloe Cup by beating the Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
‘‘I’m going to think about that [sabbatical] after Saturday. For this week I just want to make sure I’m preparing really well,’’ Smith said when asked about his looming break.
When referee Nigel Owens blows fulltime at about 9.20pm on Saturday night, Smith, whether he is celebrating the All Blacks locking up the Bledisloe Cup for a 15th consecutive year or not, will trod off the paddock knowing he won’t play again until February (Super Rugby).
The 63-cap All Black will become the third All Black, after Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, to take a sabbatical, and will miss the last eight test matches of the year
‘‘He’s a world class player,’’ All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty said of Smith. ‘‘He’s one of the best, if not the best, outside back in the world. He’s going to be a loss to the team on the field, and as much as he contributes on the field, he does off it.’’
Crotty, a good friend of Smith off the field, said he had spent a fair bit of time with Smith recently, and the fullback hadn’t even mentioned his sabbatical to him.
‘‘He’s not taking the mickey when he says he’s just focussing on this week. I can see it.’’
The start of Smith’s sabbatical,which his agent Warren Alcock told Stuff last month was always ‘‘locked in’’ for this year, will effectively end a rotten year.
It’s not that the most capped Highlander (129) of all time has played badly, he just hasn’t played a heck of a lot.
A couple of concussions and a tight hamstring limited him during Super Rugby, before an ear infection knocked him out of the majority of the test series against the British and Irish Lions.
The ear issue was originally thought to be his sixth concussion in the past five years, leading to speculation he could pull the pin on his career.
But Smith said he now feels ‘‘really good’’, and his plan is to freshen up by spending time with his wife and two young children, before targeting the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The All Blacks aren’t short of options at fullback - Israel Dagg, Damian McKenzie and rookie David Havili should all get chances to impress in his absence, to name three - but will no doubt miss Smith’s calmness under the high ball, knack for making the right decision and his ability to carve teams open with his 91kg frame.
They will also lose their vicecaptain, and whether or not the All Blacks will name an interim vicecaptain in his absence would be discussed after Saturday, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said.
‘‘I’m sure we will have a look at that,’’ Foster said.
‘‘For Ben and this team it’s all about the team, it’s all about this Saturday and that’s how we try to work it. But once he goes, obviously there will be a bit of a hole there and we will figure that out.’’
Smith, who is not yet sure if he would join the Highlanders for preseason training in December, will still be required to work in the background to ensure he returns in good shape to get through another couple of years, Foster said.