All Blacks are the pinnacle for Smith

All Blacks fullback Ben Smith has poured cold water on suggestions he could shun the national side in favour of playing for the Highlanders against the British and Irish Lions next month.

Smith confirmed he had a clause in his contract to play in the historic match in Dunedin on June 13, but that was before the All Blacks scheduled a test match against Samoa three days later. ’’If selected, I’ll be playing for the All Blacks. It’s the pinnacle,’’ Smith said.

Speculation Smith could turn out for the Dunedin-based franchise bubbled when Highlanders coach Tony Brown told Trackside Radio Smith had a clause in his contract allowing him to play.

Brown added he wasn’t convinced it would eventuate, and it would depend on how much influence All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had over the star fullback. The test match against Samoa, at Eden Park on June 16, is the only chance for Hansen to give his team a run together before the first test match against the Lions on June 24.

While the Blues and Crusaders are expected to have most of their All Blacks available when they play the Lions, the three other Kiwi Super Rugby teams are not.

‘‘It’s not a choice thing between the Highlanders and All Blacks,’’ Smith said. ‘‘If I wasn’t selected for the All Blacks, of course [I’d like to play]. It’s massive for the Highlanders to get a crack against the Lions.’’