Smith pays tribute to partner Teagan
All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith has a very different take on touring now that he is a doting father to a young son, Luka.
He has to deal with the painful goodbyes and has a much greater understanding of what other fathers in the Highlanders and All Blacks squads have been going through.
But, above all, he now appreciates the role his partner Teagan Voykovich and the other rugby partners, wives and mothers play as they stay at home and do the real mahi.
‘‘They do a brilliant job mate,’’ Smith told Stuff from South Africa, where the Highlanders are preparing to face the Bulls tomorrow morning (NZ time).
‘‘There’s no way we could do what we do without them.
‘‘Teagan for me helps me be able to play rugby, to play a sport, and they’re doing all the hard graft with Luka.
‘‘I’m very grateful for that. And it’s just a matter of when you are home of being present and not bringing the footy home.’’
The Highlanders left for South Africa one day later than they normally would, and that extra time at home is something Smith relishes.
While there is talk that the Rugby Championship might change from 2021 to cut out the Argentina to South Africa travel leg for the All Blacks, the inescapable fact is that rugby players spend significant parts of the year away from home.
As a result, new fathers such as Smith find their priorities on tour change. Suddenly, it’s the small things such as finding a good internet connection to see Luka again that take on extra significance.
‘‘That was one of the toughest goodbyes,’’ Smith said of leaving seven-month-old Luka this week. ‘‘It is what it is.
‘‘I’ve got mad respect for the boys who have done it for years.
‘‘FaceTiming home is still brilliant though. As long as you’ve got a good Wi-Fi connection I can see my little boy morning and night.
‘‘He sort of doesn’t know what’s going on but it’s good to see him.’’
The 31-year-old Smith will cocaptain the Highlanders for the rest of the season with hooker Ash Dixon after the horror injury James Lentjes suffered against the Rebels.
Smith and Dixon are the old men in a very young Highlanders touring squad but with the pressure on following a disappointing start to the season Smith said the tour had been far more business than pleasure.
‘‘We’ve only had a little outing and otherwise it’s all been about our prep for Saturday,’’ Smith said.
‘‘It’s been good. Yesterday we went out to a lion park to see a bit of South Africa but we’ve kept it pretty serious.
‘‘The opportunity that touring provides to get connected, living together for a couple of days, it’s been great for us.’’
Another loss to the Bulls in South Africa would increase the pressure on the Highlanders, although there is a theme running through the early part of their campaign.
In each of their four games so far, the Highlanders have named at least one debutant. That trend will continue against the Bulls when Ngane Punivai starts at 13 and it is likely that either openside Slade McDowall or lock Will Tucker – or both – will make their first appearances against the Jaguares next week.
Smith is clearly desperate for the win this weekend but as a father he sees the bigger picture these days.
‘‘We’ve got a lot of young guys, which is always an interesting opportunity,’’ he said.
‘‘Their energy and enthusiasm just makes you want to play rugby.
‘‘The way they see the game just reminds me of that carefree, fearless style of rugby . . . guys like [wing] Jona Nareki and our young fellas make me excited about playing.
‘‘Having Mitch Hunt there is great too.
‘‘Our young loosie trio with Teariki Ben-Nicholas and Marino [Mikaele-Tu’u] are going awesome.’’