Battle-scarred Smith relishes taking on the best of the prop idols

IT’S akin to an early 1980s boxer facing Marvin Hagler on one weekend and Roberto Duran the next.

Let no-one tell you professional rugby players have it easy.

Nicky Smith turns up for his media interviews with a swelling around one eye and cuts around the other.

Over the past two weekends, he has propped against the best two scrummaging tight-heads in Europe, maybe even in the world.

First there was Rabah Slimani, of Stade Francais, a chap who is not only terrifically strong but also an outstanding set-piece technician. He could scrummage all night against different loose-heads and not take a backward step throughout the entire experience.

Six days later, Smith found himself pushing and shoving against the Irishman whose team-mates have nicknamed him ‘Rikishi’, after a Samoan wrestler. That man, Tadhg Furlong, is expected to anchor the Lions scrum in the Tests in New Zealand this summer.

So how has it been for you, Nicky?

“I’ve learned a lot, not just from the past fortnight but from the whole season,” said Smith (pictured).

“It didn’t go well in the tight against Stade Francais. We knew they were were strong but we didn’t perform.

“Slimani is good. But it was still disappointing we couldn’t get more out of the scrums than we did. It goes like that sometimes.

“Hopefully, if we come across him again it will be more of a battle. “It went better against Leinster. “The boys fronted up and, aside from the odd creak, we were solid. We were pleased with the way it went as a pack.”

Smith can hardly be blamed if he feels he has had quite enough of Slimani for an entire lifetime, with the Osprey part of the pack shoved backwards when the Stade man returned to the field under controversial circumstances in the France-Wales Six Nations match in Paris last month.

Slimani had earlier caused problems for Rob Evans in a match that featured 20 minutes of over-time. “It was a mad game,” said Smith. “I spent only a few minutes on the pitch but it was a crazy experience.”

The season has been one of mixed fortunes for the 23-year-old.

For the Ospreys he has largely flourished; for Wales he spent much time on the bench after starting the first game of the Six Nations.

“I would have liked more gametime in the national set-up,” said Smith.

“But it was the first time for me to be involved in an autumn series and a Six Nations, so in that sense it’s been good.

“I think I’m a better player than I was a year ago.

“I’m a bit more experienced, I can make better decisions and I’m fitter. “I’ve tried to develop my game. “A prop has his basic job, but everyone is getting fitter and stronger and so it’s about trying to offer a bit more.

“I’ve looked to do that while understanding that the core principles of scrummaging, hitting rucks and line-out lifting are key, but I know I still have a lot to learn.”

This weekend, Smith is set to line up against Cardiff Blues in the opening Judgement Day encounter at the Principality Stadium.

The match is one the Ospreys need to win after two consecutive Guiness Pro12 defeats. Another setback would leave their play-off hopes under serious threat with Ulster (home) and the Scarlets (away) to face in the final rounds of the regular campaign.

“We are expecting a hard game,” said Smith.

“They have signed a few new boys who are lively and they will be looking to pressure us in the tight five. “We just have to react. “But if we play to our potential we always think we can do well.”

Smith could face Gethin Jenkins, someone he looked up to as a youngster.

“He’s a tremendous player, arguably Wales’s best loose-head, and it would be great to go against him,” he added.

“That said, we have to look beyond individual match-ups and assesss the bigger picture.

“It’s not about individual players. It’s about winning.”