Rugby | The All Blacks’ smallest playmaker makes the difference

New Zealand’s Aaron Smith scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between New Zealand and Argentina

For all the incredible experience the All Blacks put out on Wembley – four centurions and one on 98 caps – it was one of their relative newcomers and their smallest guy who made the difference in their thrilling Rugby World Cup opener on Sunday.
Aaron Smith, one of six New Zealand starters playing in his first Cup, scored the try which put his side back in front of Argentina and broke the Pumas’ spirit, all the while having to deal with unrelenting opposite Tomas Cubelli.
The All Blacks won 26-16, but the biggest ever crowd at a Rugby World Cup game was treated to a New Zealand side struggling to handle swarming Argentines for the middle 40 minutes.
In the first half, Smith said the All Blacks played as if they were expecting something to happen, instead of making it happen, and put themselves under pressure with two yellow cards. In the second, reinforcements added an urgent desire and the team finally played without fear.
“It looked better, and felt better,” said Smith, who was in the middle of it all.
Trailing 16-12 and nearly into the last quarter, New Zealand received a penalty in Argentina’s left corner and kicked it out for a lineout. They won it, and smashed aside the Argentines so well in driving hooker Dane Coles to the line that when Smith steadied the ball behind the ruck, he saw no Argentine was home. It was an easy run-in for his fifth try against Argentina in seven tests.
“Just a heads-up play,” he said. “I wanted to pass to (fullback) Ben Smith on the blindside but a defender got in the way, and I didn’t want to throw an intercept. I was only two meters out, I felt I could sneak over. It was sneaky.”
Sneaky aptly describes Smith. His vision, speed, sidestep, and accuracy have made him the world’s best scrumhalf virtually since the All Blacks chose him in mid 2012. He’s so valuable that of the 47 tests New Zealand played between the last Rugby World Cup and this one, he appeared in 41, tied for the most in the team. AP