Each day this week, rugby writers a hectic 2019. Today we assess
It’s not as if Aaron Smith has excess timber around his midriff, or lacks energy at crucial moments. Nothing like that; barring the odd eclectic hairstyle, the All Black halfback’s physical characteristics have changed little from previous seasons.
The same cannot be said for his performances. Honesty time. Overall rating for Smith in 2018: C.
It’s not a fail, but that’s not the point. Since he used his hard flat passes, a legacy of a powerful wrist action, and speed to the breakdowns to manoeuvre his way into the All Blacks more than six years ago he has usually been the undisputed king of No 9s in New Zealand. Probably on a global scale, too.
This year, something changed. Smith wasn’t nearly as accurate in key parts of his game.
Kicking from the base of the rucks and scrums was belowpar, especially against England in London and Ireland in Dublin last month, and while his passes were still being spat out at top speed they didn’t always find the intended recipient.
During the Rugby Championship match against South Africa in Wellington, a test the All Blacks lost 36-34, Smith’s attention to detail slipped.
Yes, he scored a try but the sight of him spending precious seconds attempting to direct runners as the ball sat at the tail of the ruck would have been welcomed by the opposition.
Three weeks later the All Blacks destroyed the Springboks’ hopes of recording consecutive victories against them when they recovered from a 13-point deficit with 10 minutes left to win 32-30 in Pretoria.
However, Smith was overshadowed by Faf de Klerk at Loftus Versfeld, his South African counterpart again proving why he will be a key part of his team’s game plans at the World Cup in Japan next year.
Smith was replaced by TJ Perenara in the 70th minute as the All Blacks wound up for their remarkable sprint home, while de Klerk was substituted three minutes later, a decision coach Rassie Erasmus surely regretted with the benefit of hindsight.
Perenara was picked to start the next test, against the Wallabies in Yokohama, but didn’t do enough to force the selectors to eject Smith from his throne.
Neither man did himself any