Head knocks did not force sabbatical
A series of head-knocks isn’t behind All Blacks vice-captain Ben Smith’s decision to utilise the sabbatical clause in his contract this year.
Smith, who has been concussed twice and had an inner-ear problem this year, will take a four-month break after the second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin next month, his manager Warren Alcock confirmed yesterday.
Alcock, who in February negotiated Smith’s contract with New Zealand Rugby through to 2020, told Stuff the timing of the break was always ‘‘locked in’’ for this year.
‘‘The timing was always locked in from the end of Super Rugby until next year’s Super Rugby campaign,’’ Alcock said.
‘‘We had always had that agreed. So all we’ve really done is he’s agreed to be available for two further games.’’
Smith’s decision to make himself available for the first two Bledisloe tests stemmed from him missing chunks of the Super Rugby season and British and Irish Lions tour due to injury.
It means the 31-year-old will be available for the Sydney test on August 19, and the Dunedin test a week later. He will then sit out the rest of the year and the eight tests the All Blacks will play.
After Smith’s Highlanders were knocked out of Super Rugby by the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend, Smith told media he was close to confirming his break.
‘‘Primarily, he wanted to get through Super Rugby before giving any thought to anything outside Super Rugby,’’ Alcock said. ‘‘Having got through that on the weekend he sat down with the key people he needed to talk to and made some decisions.
‘‘My expectation is he will genuinely start a sabbatical after those two Bledisloe Cups.’’
Smith suffered concussion in the Highlanders’ season opening Super Rugby loss to the Chiefs in February, and again against the Crusaders in June.
There were fears he suffered a third concussion this year in the first test against the Lions, before it was later revealed he had an inner-ear problem. The 62-test All Black also missed the Highlanders’ home game against the Rebels with a hamstring injury.
Smith will miss four Rugby Championship tests, the final Bledisloe in Brisbane and three tests on the end-ofyear tour.