Smith’s inner ear confusion
All Blacks vice-captain Ben Smith has labelled the moment he was cleared of a third concussion this year as a ‘‘big relief’’.
The 31-year-old will play for the first time in almost a month on Saturday night, when he cocaptains the Highlanders against the Crusaders in their Super Rugby quarterfinal in Christchurch.
Smith left the first test match against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park after taking a knock to the head. He was initially diagnosed with a third concussion since February, only to later find out it was an inner-ear problem.
‘‘I think the most frustrating thing was the timing of it . . . obviously earlier on in the year I did have a couple of concussions,’’ Smith said.
‘‘But for the latest one to be ruled out as concussion and instead an ear problem was a big relief. Now I’m just looking forward to getting out there with the team and playing some rugby.’’
Smith being ruled out of the test series with what was thought to be
Ben Smith (cc), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Richard Buckman, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, James Lentjes, Liam Squire, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Ash Dixon (cc), Aki Seiuli, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Alex Ainley, Gareth Evans, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks. his sixth concussion in the past five years sparked speculation he might opt to retire.
But he didn’t believe his career was done and dusted - only that he wasn’t convinced he would feature again for the Highlanders this year.
‘‘If I’m honest, there probably was a stage I was wondering what was going on,’’ Smith, who has been putting in the hard yards to ensure his fitness remained up to scratch, said.
‘‘I’ve just been trying to get as much conditioning in as I can. Just trying to make sure that while I haven’t been playing rugby, I’ve been getting my body right and ready for when there is a chance, which is this Saturday.’’
Family time was also on the agenda, something he will get plenty more of if his rumoured sabbatical is confirmed.
The topic was off-limits yesterday, but Smith is expected to activate the sabbatical clause in his contract after the Bledisloe Cup test match in Dunedin on August 26.
Details won’t be confirmed until after the Highlanders’ season ends, but Smith stands to miss the final eight test matches this year.
Smith’s return to the Highlanders coincides with fellow All Black and halfback Aaron Smith returning from a week off for Saturday’s sudden-death South Island derby.
The Highlanders are all but fully healthy for the match, with only wing Patrick Osborne, who returned from test duty in Fiji on Tuesday nursing an ankle injury, not considered for selection.
Coach Tony Brown has opted to start Rob Thompson at second-five eighth, meaning utility Richard Buckman will start on the left- wing, as he did the last time the Highlanders played the Crusaders in the Garden City.
Brown has only named two backs - pivot Marty Banks and halfback Kayne Hammington - on the pine as the Highlanders prepare to battle the Crusaders’ All Black laden pack,
‘‘It’s something we’ve used in the past quite successfully,’’ Brown said. ‘‘We just feel like we need extra fire power up front.’’
Brown called Ben Smith the heart and soul of the Dunedinbased franchise, and predicted his and Aaron Smith’s return would inspire a quality performance.
With rain forecast to pepper Christchurch on Saturday, conditions are set to be a far cry from what the Highlanders are accustomed to when they play under the roof in Dunedin.
‘‘The way we’ve planned, we can execute both in the wet and dry . . . we’re all sorted for the rain if it comes,’’ Smith said.
‘‘We know as a group it’s going to be a massive challenge. The Crusaders will be pretty disappointed with how they went against the Canes [last weekend], they’re going to be pretty fired up.’’