SMITH: NO WHIFF FOR ROSES
Murray makes his Grand Slam return and admits he has no real chance of winning in New York
ANDY MURRAY admits he cannot mount a serious US Open challenge.
GEORGE SMITH has ruled out any prospect of a part-time coaching role with England after returning to the country to play for Bristol.
The Australian, who will be with the Bears until January, helped out his former coach Eddie Jones, working as a breakdown specialist when he was with Wasps in 2016.
But there will be no repeat as Smith (right) has nailed his colours to his native green and gold for whom he won 111 caps. “It wouldn’t be right for me to do that because I’d be in the English camp and last year I was in the Wallabies’ camp,” said Smith.
“Morally I wouldn’t do it just because I have seen the inner sanctum of both camps. I would not put myself in that position.”
Instead the veteran flanker will focus on trying to help Bristol stay in the Premiership after promotion.
He arrives from the Queensland Reds whom he joined after being sacked by Japanese club Suntory after a New Year’s Eve incident with a taxi driver that led to 20 days in jail before a release without charge.
“I have learned a lot from that, but there was no case to be answered, no conviction and no legal ramifications,” he said. “I was happy to let it be and continue my career elsewhere. I can’t hide the fact I’m 38 but I still know I can compete with players and I wouldn’t have signed this contract if I didn’t know that.”