Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘He called it’: Aaron Smith predicted dream end to final Highlanders home game

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Aaron Smith really can do it all. The legendary halfback is one of the greatest Highlanders of all time, but Smiths’ knowledge, skill and understanding of the sport goes beyond the field of play.

ADVERTISEMENT

Having played 184 matches for the Highlanders and counting, Smith will go down in history as potentially the Dunedin-based franchises’ best-ever player.

Smith played a key role in the Highlanders’ maiden Super Rugby title in 2015, and will leave a long-lasting legacy at the club when his playing days are over.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Beyond that, Smith is also widely regarded as probably the greatest halfback to have ever donned the coveted All Blacks jersey – if not the best No. 9 that the world has ever seen.

Smith is that good.

But call him Nostradamus, because the man known as ‘Nugget’ can officially see things on the rugby field before they happen.

Playing in his final Highlanders home game at Forsyth Barr Stadium last weekend against the Queensland Reds, Smith watched on from the sidelines as the visitors took a late lead.

The Reds were up 28-30 with five minutes to play after a Tom Lynagh penalty goal, and appeared set to win their first match in Dunedin since 2013 – and end the Highlanders’ season.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Folau Fakatava refused to throw in the towel.

The replacement halfback raced through a gap between Mac Grealy and Jock Campbell down the short side, and scored the match-winning try with 28 seconds to play.

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlanders playmaker Mitch Hunt later revealed that Smith had told one of his teammates that Fakatava was “going to catch someone slacking off” before it happened.

“It’s pretty awesome and he’s been that guy a number of times over the last few years,” Hunt told RugbyPass.

“Whether he’s been starting or coming off the bench late, he’s someone that just seems to keep finding those gaps or picking on guys that are just napping a little bit.

“He’s one to look out for this weekend too with that type of style.

“I think Aaron, once he went off and he was on the bench, he must have leaned over to one of the boys and said, ‘Folau’s going to catch someone slacking off here’ and almost called it a few minutes before.”

With the match in balance, Smith was replaced by Fakatava in the 67th minute. At that stage, the Highlanders were trailing by six points.

The All Black had done all he could, and had been replaced by his heir apparent in front of a vibrant Dunedin crowd.

“Pretty cool that we’ve got Aaron to start a game and Folau to come and finish. I’d say probably Aaron owes him the beer I reckon,” Hunt added.

“I think he said he called it just before it happened, that Folau was gonna catch someone slacking there and that’s exactly what he did.

“That’s a pretty cool moment as well.”

This year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign hadn’t quite gone to plan for the Highlanders, but they’re still in “control of our own destiny” heading into the final round of the regular season.

Related

Currently sitting in eighth place on the ladder, a win a round 15 over New Zealand rivals the Blues would book their place in the next stage.

But a loss could eliminate the Highlanders – other results would have to go their way, with another three teams vying for that final spot in the playoffs.

“The positive heading into this week has probably been our last two weeks. With the nature of our season and where we’ve sort of left ourselves, the last won weeks were really… treated as playoff games.

“We’ve sort of been in a little bit of that mindset for the last couple of weeks.

“The way our last two games finished, traditionally we may have lost tight games like that as the Landers over the last few years.

“I think we take some great confidence out of knowing that in those tight games, the last few weeks we’ve been able to finish. That’s been great, we’ve treated them like finals.

“If we win we go through, if we lose there’s still a chance but then it relies on everyone else.

“We want to take control of our own destiny and we’re going up there to win, as tough as it may be heading up to Auckland.”

The match between the Highlanders and Blues is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
C
Coach 522 days ago

Best no 9 the world has ever seen...Do us a favour and get out more!! He was/is good but not world's best by a long shot. Always played behind great packs which makes it easier to shine. MNM he is a great player but not the best, maybe Not even in the top 5.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024 England player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series 2024
Search