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What ‘grounded’ Aaron Smith after heartbreaking World Cup final defeat
By Finn Morton
Aaron Smith is no longer an All Black. After more than 120 Test matches, the glistening international career of arguably the greatest halfback in Test rugby history came to a heartbreaking end.
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New Zealand were beaten 12-11 by a tough South African outfit in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France, but Smith still found a reason to smile after the decider.
You could see it on the All Blacks’ faces as the Springboks walked onto the podium to receive their gold medals at the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup – the New Zealanders were hurting.
But moments before, Aaron Smith had walked onto that very same stage to collect his silver medal. Smith showed his son the medal, and suddenly the fact it was silver wasn’t everything.
Smith, 34, wanted to win the final, of course he did, but sharing that stage with one of his kids was a moment “you have to be grateful for.”
So, Aaron Smith is no longer an All Black, but he is a dad.
“I went to get my kids, they don’t know how you are feeling but they still love you. That really grounded me, they still love their dad,” Smith said.
“He still loved the medal, those are the moments you have to be grateful for and brings things into perspective. Family is important.
Knockout
11 - 12
Final
6 - 44
SF1
15 - 16
SF2
17 - 29
QF1
24 - 28
QF2
30 - 24
QF3
28 - 29
QF4
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“This game was important but I came off the field and I gave everything I could and the team had. Sport is like that. The memories I have made and been a part of, from the quarter-final, it has been a hell of a month.”
The All Blacks can hold their heads up high after the painful defeat. Captain Sam Cane was red-carded midway through the first term which was a hammer blow to New Zealand’s hopes of World Cup glory.
But to their credit, the All Blacks refused to throw in the towel. New Zealand even had a chance to snatch the title at the death but the Boks managed to hold on for gold.
“We didn’t die wondering,” Smith told reporters. “I think we threw everything we had and the champions South Africa held strong in those key moments and they held strong in the moments, got turnovers.
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“They nailed those little moments. That’s rugby. That’s Test match rugby and it’s brutal sometimes. It was an amazing game to be a part of and I was proud of our effort tonight.
“We always have plans around if we get cards and how our game changes, depending on what the position is of the guy carded,” Smith added when asked about Cane’s red card.
“It was good at half-time to get some alignment on that and how we wanted to play and try to strike from scrums.
“We held strong with one less forward and had opportunities but we just couldn’t get over the line again.”
He won a world cup in 2015, so he can be proud of his career. Well played Nugget
Hoea to waka ki te kainga i runga i te whakahīhī me te tohe kaha.
Ko nga pakanga i whawhaitia e koe kua pa ki a ratou. Inaianei okioki me te whakapehapeha o te toa nui
Love this guys attitude. Even my wife says he seems very relaxed & humble about the defeat.
Sad to see him go. What a player
Class act that he acknowledged his family who would have had to sacrifice and stick beside him over the years to allow him to play this great sport. Legend and an inspiration to many Kiwi kids.
Small man with a huge heart and damn big boots to fill, well done nuggy, will miss seeing/hearing you out there urging on the boys. Full credit to a fantastic sportsman.👍👍👍
My favourite NZ player, even after our defeat in the QF when I saw footage of him crying with emotion I was almost happy for him, until I copped myself on.
With the kid reminiscent of Johnny Sexton with his. “You’re still the best Daddy in the world”, etc.
Aaron Smith is a cut above the rest.
Family First.
And like the humble amongst us, you learned your lesson. You swallowed your pride.
And became/ reinvented yourself to be the best #9 in NZ.
As a Bok supporter, my memory of the footage after the final wistle, is of Mr Smith walking, with a BIG smile on his face with his laaitie/son in his arm, and soaking up the privilege of having a family and being part of a WORD CUP FINAL.
RESPECT.
Aaron has been a fixture in the ABs - best wishes to him and his. Next man up…