Who’s the best of the best in the All Blacks?
Aaron Smith has received one public vote as the rugby world’s most influential player. But is he really the All Blacks’ MVP? MARC HINTON goes searching for answers.
WARREN Gatland got it half right, reckon two pretty astute observers of All Black rugby. It’s a Smith, all right, who is the best player on the planet right now, just not the one nominated by the second-term British and Irish Lions coach on his scouting mission down under.
Gatland caused a few brows to furrow around New Zealand rugby’s chattering classes when he offered, unprompted, in an interview prior to last weekend’s Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Hamilton the assessment that All Black halfback Aaron Smith was the best player in the world.
The Wales and Lions head coach told Sky TV: ‘‘[The All Blacks] have taken their game to another level. There’s one player in particular who is the driving force, and that is Aaron Smith. He’s the best player in the world at the moment. ’’You take him out of that All Black team and they might be a little vulnerable. He’s pretty special.’’
Of course, Smith then, on cue, had one of his less effective tests in the All Blacks’ 57-22 victory, subbed just eight minutes into the second half, with coach Steve Hansen admitting he hadn’t coped well with some concerted pressure that came his way.
Not to worry. Possibly Smith’s Hamilton misfire was the exception that proves the rule. The speedy halfback has undoubtedly been a key performer in an All Blacks outfit that has indeed gone next level after tucking away a second straight World Cup.
They have coped with the departure of six legends (and a smattering of the supporting cast) by simply not missing a beat. They’re a team not just on top of their game, but on top of the game.
But is Gatland right? Does Smith’s swiftness of foot and clearance make him a man apart in a team apart?
Former national coach John Hart and ex-test great turned Sky analyst Jeff Wilson both sit in the Ben Smith camp when nominating their most influential All Blacks, and by extension best player in the game.
‘‘He’s probably the most complete footballer I’ve seen,’’ says Wilson, rather emphatically. ‘‘He has become the most influential, and the most versatile player for the All Blacks. They play him anywhere, from second five back to fullback, and his decision-making and accuracy are first rate.
‘‘You look at his positional play, you think about his work under the high ball, his desperation and accuracy on defence, his attacking ability, his range, and he’s like Cully (Christian Cullen), he beats the first man every time. We see his kicking skills, playmaking ability, finishing skills. It’s the complete package, and now you’re adding a leadership role.’’
Hart, an assistant coach with the 1987 World Cup-winning All Blacks and head coach from 1996-99, says it’s a close call between the two Smiths, but, like Wilson, he is won over by the utility back’s overall package.
‘‘Aaron Smith’s clearance of the ball gives the All Blacks incredible space and time, and he’s clearly above any other halfback in the world ... but I think Ben Smith is the most influential player because he is a brilliant defender, brilliant attacker, pops up anywhere, his strength in the tackle and goforward are unbelievable, and his skills in the air are so good.
‘‘When you’re defining outstanding players you’ve got to ask, do they have a weakness? I don’t see any weaknesses in Ben Smith. When does Ben Smith have a six-out-of-10 game? He’s eight or nine every game.’’
Former All Black great and now astute analyst Andrew Mehrtens, perhaps appreciating the halfback’s role more than most, agrees with Gatland’s assertion.
‘‘Aaron Smith brings the ability to give guys time. The speed and accuracy of his pass and decisionmaking is invaluable. The speed of him getting to the ball, and getting it away, and hitting the right guy ... he is the spark for these All Blacks. He gives that extra metre or second to make a decision.
‘‘He also embodies what these All Blacks are about, conforming to a point but bringing your strengths to the team. He’s one of the characters, and one of the most competitive individuals too. He leads the haka as well, and from the word go takes the team by the scruff of the neck and forces them around.’’
Former All Black lock and Sky pundit Ian Jones looks at it from the viewpoint of players transforming the way their position is played, and opts for hooker Danes Coles.
‘‘In our lifetime you don’t get many guys that come along and change the way the game is played and we have two in Aaron and Dane, and may have three if Ardie Savea has his chance.’’
But Jones cites the example of young hookers at the national under-19 tournament in Taupo now running round looking to emulate the style of Coles.
‘‘His ability to run these lines into holes and beat defenders is something we’ve never really seen internationally in a hooker, and his speed is something we’ve never really seen in a hooker. Plus, he’s given the ability with the All Black game-plan to be able to do that.’’
Honourable mentions go to Retallick, Barrett, skipper Read and in-form blindside Jerome Kaino. And the presumption that the most influential All Black is by definition the best player in the game. Is there a touch of arrogance in this? Wilson: ‘‘Is there a player around the world I’d replace in our starting XV? I don’t know.
‘‘Maybe Israel Folau, maybe someone from England. But I’d GETTY IMAGES have to think long and hard about where I’d fit them in.’’
Mehrtens: ‘‘I don’t think it’s arrogance. Right now they are the best team in the world and there are reasons for that — some of those are collective and some are the individual brilliance of certain players.’’