New-look Smith is back in the groove

Steve Hansen may need to put the shackles on Aaron Smith this week if, as expected, he spares his in-form halfback from active duty in the tour opener at Twickenham.

The All Blacks halfback is back in the groove after a marked fall from grace over the back half of 2016, when well documented off-field indiscretions knocked the champion No 9 off his stride. Things got so dark, he became a shadow of the player he was.

But now Smith is back racing to the ruck, sending out clearance passes like sniper bullets, barking orders and generally revelling in the up-tempo game the All Blacks favour.

More to the point, he’s feeling a million bucks and pledging to play each and every game on this tour, if that’s what his coach wants.

He doesn’t. Hansen needs Smith to produce three more quality outings to sign off on a redemptive 2017 season – against France, Scotland and then Wales.

The 28-year-old, 68-test halfback certainly has his swagger back. Right now he’s rocking a sort of mini-Ardie Savea hairdo that he’s adamant is his own creation. He is a hairdresser, so on this we probably should take him at his word.

He also proffers to be in rare November shape, with more than enough petrol in the tank to get through his three major assignments on this trip.

‘‘I feel like in the past maybe I have tapered away on the end-of-year tour, but the body is in good shape and I come in mentally fresh and excited about trying to finish the year off on a personal high,’’ he adds.

Smith didn’t want to get into the finer detail of his form resurgence in 2017, but says his physical condition is a major ingredient. ‘‘I feel in good shape, and don’t feel like I’m trying to hang on. I feel good, and I’m excited about the bunch of boys we’ve got over here.’’

Hansen’s policy of strategic rest to pace the All Blacks through their year has also worked wonders, even if Smith has only missed the single test – the home clash against Argentina in New Plymouth. He calls it his ‘‘blessing in disguise’’.

‘‘When you get told early in the week you’re pretty gutted, but then you get back in the team-first zone. When you get rested it sucks, but you know the next week you’re going to be humming, feeling really good and attack that next game or next block. With how the Rugby Championship is split up you can actually get two weeks off. As you get a bit older that’s like gold.’’

Smith was also in sharp form dealing with a couple of potentially curly questions from local media.

Echoing what appears set to be a theme on this tour, one reporter inquired if Smith wasn’t disappointed England were not on the All Blacks’ schedule.

‘‘We’ve got some pretty big games on this tour. I think we play them next year because it’s all over the media,’’ he shot back. ‘‘It will be one of those games, if you’re able to be part of it that will be awesome. But we’ve got a big game on this tour we need to worry about and it’s the Barbarians this Saturday at Twickenham.’’

And what about England coach Eddie Jones’ supposed 20-page dossier on the All Blacks, compiled via feedback from his players on the Lions tour, which is all part of his master plan to gain an edge ahead of that big matchup next November?

‘‘That’s brilliant. Good on Eddie Jones. He sounds like a brilliant coach. I’ve just read George Gregan’s book. He talked about Eddie and he sounds meticulous . . . just like our coaches.

‘‘He’s just trying to get a reaction, I’d say. If we’re around when that happens we’ll see if his dossier works.’’

Yes, the chirpiness is back. Along with that pass. And a mind thinking two moves ahead.

On the grilling they received in London in reviewing the Brisbane banana skin: ‘‘It wasn’t as hard out as some in the past when it feels like you have had to zip a bulletproof vest up.’’

And on the All Blacks battling Julian Savea this weekend at Twickenham: ‘‘We’ve had a few chats, and it’s been like, ‘geez, the Bus is coming!’ He’s been playing really well, and guys like that are nightmares . . . he’s just trying be a dream-ender and I’ve been on the back end of Julian a couple of times, so, yes, let’s do it in England.’’ ●➤

Todd’s waiting game B12