EXCLUSIVE - Aaron Smith Set to Leave All Blacks

It appears that Aaron Smith’s slide from key All Black to international rugby oblivion shows no sign of abating.

Aaron Smith has been stood down from the 3^rd and final Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland this weekend for his indiscretions at a disabled washroom in Christchurch Airport following the All Blacks’ victory over South Africa nearly a month ago.

Not only that, a reliable source has advised that Aaron Smith’s association with New Zealand rugby may be about to come to an abrupt end.

Mark McHugh, a prominent rugby agent with links to powerful English clubs like Leicester, Northampton, Saracens and Harlequins, has been negotiating a record deal for the world’s best halfback in the last few weeks.

McHugh had initially indicated that the deal was set for after the British & Irish Lions series. However, it is understood that Harlequins have been following the events of recent times and are looking to pay $500,000 extra per season for 4 seasons to secure Aaron Smith’s services as soon as possible- bringing the deal to a whopping NZ$1.5 million per season.

Smith would play alongside former All Blacks first five, Nick Evans at the West London club who are based across the road from the iconic Twickenham Stadium.

With TJ Perenara now firmly established as All Blacks first choice halfback and Aaron Smith pretty much the least wanted All Black since Keith Murdoch, it is perhaps not unreasonable that Smith, a World Cup winner and Super Rugby winner with the Highlanders may call it quits on New Zealand rugby and head overseas.  

The New Zealand Rugby Union would have easy grounds to terminate Aaron Smith’s contract early, considering the toilet tryst episode a serious misconduct episode.

Is this the First All Blacks Squad of 2016?

The most intriguing All Blacks squad in years will be named on Sunday ahead of the All Blacks’ season opening series against Wales next month.

Of main intrigue, is who will replace long time stalwarts, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, all of whom have now said goodbye to the hallowed black jersey after close to 600 caps in total.

As is the case each year after a Rugby World Cup, the door for selection is more open than before and with 6 vacancies in the starting lineup up for grabs, it is no wonder that the intensity of the New Zealand Super Rugby sides has been hotter than ever.

32 names are expected to be named. Here is my tip for the side (by position) –

Props – Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Ofa Tu’ungafasi

Hookers – Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris

Locks – Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Patrick Tuipulotu

Loose Forwards – Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd, Elliot Dixon, Kieran Read (captain)

Halfbacks – Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber

First Fives – Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Cruden

Midfielders – Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Charlie Ngatai

Outside Backs – Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo, Israel Dagg, Damien McKenzie

Notes –

·         New caps – Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Damien McKenzie and Elliot Dixon
n    Nathan Harris is in as the 3rd hooker for his first cap since his debut against the USA in 2014. I've gone for him over Hika Elliott as the tried and tested option. 

·         Beauden Barrett is also in as fullback cover

·         Ofa Tu’ungafasi can cover both sides of the scrum and has been part of the All Blacks wider training squads in the past.

·         Victor Vito is heading overseas at the end of the Hurricanes season so is unavailable for selection.

·         Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam are unavailable for selection due to their involvement in the New Zealand Sevens side.

·         Nehe Milner-Skudder and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are also unavailable due to injury. 

England Set for Move to SANZAR

In a move that has rocked the core of Northern Hemisphere rugby, the Rugby Football Union is understood to be busy making plans to join SANZAR as early as 2018.

The move has been heavily pushed by current head coach, Eddie Jones, who says that winning the Grand Slam this season was hollow given the quality of opposition they faced.

“Let’s face it, Italy will never be good as long as I have breath in my lungs, the Celtic nations are coached by Kiwis and the Frogs only care about football,” the former Australian coach said in a statement to media at Twickenham.

The Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Italian and French unions have expressed their delight echoing a recent ad on BBC One that was banned - it showed supporters crying "England" as the team they would love to see lose. A French rugby official was quoted as saying that Georgia would take England's place as soon as they left. 

If England does join SANZAR, they will compete in an expanded Rugby Championship and play in hot summer conditions at Twickenham. Plans are also underway for Super Rugby to expand to include English teams.

While traditionalists have mooted the likes of Leicester and Northampton to fly the flag for England against the might of the Highlanders and Sunwolves, the RFU has made noise of a possible London based Super Rugby franchise based at Wembley Stadium and formed from the merger of Harlequins, Wasps, London Irish, Saracens and London Welsh.

Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw commented, “The jerseys will be even more multi-coloured than ever.”

The NZRU, SARU and ARU declined to comment while the UAR has said “Ei karamba!”

Best of BMac

Brendon McCullum's illustrious international cricket career came to a close on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Christchurch.

BMac's finale couldn't have been scripted any better as he scored the fastest ton in test cricket history - 100 from 54 balls. He would also finish with the most runs for any captain in their last game.

We now look back at the best of BMac's career starting from that day Mark Richardson ran him out at the SCG on his international debut in 2002.

NB: I tried to find highlights of BMac's 50 against England at last year's World Cup but wasn't able to find them on YouTube.

Keep Southee To Tests?

It’s official. New Zealand cricket has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to bowlers, particularly with our quicks.

It’s quite a turnaround from the days when we were picking guys like Lance Hamilton and Brent Arnel to the national team, i.e. good solid provincial players who weren’t quite international quality.

One must remember that we also have allrounders who can bowl fast/medium in Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Ben Wheeler.

Let’s have a look at our bowling stocks at the moment.

Trent Boult is clearly our premier bowler at the moment in all forms of the game. The Northern Districts lightning bolt isn’t one of the quickest bowlers in the world, but man he can get that ball to move quickly and how.

I would consider Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry to be contenders for 2^nd best quick bowler in all forms of the game.

Henry has been a bit unlucky and lucky in terms of selection for the side. He is unlucky that he is not really considered a first choice bowler, being always tipped as a reserve for Tim Southee and Trent Boult. On the other hand, injuries and resting policies have meant that Henry has lucked in and got a chance to show that he really deserves his place in the first choice side. He’s New Zealand’s version of Michael Kasprowicz.

For Doug, this is a remarkable turnaround for the man who was forgotten by many following his escapades with bad boy, Jesse Ryder. The third generation Bracewell always had the class to be an international cricketer since his demolition job of the Aussies in Hobart 4 years ago.

Mitchell McClenaghan has clearly established himself as a specialist in the shorter forms of the game. He is combative but doesn’t quite have the skills to last in the longer form of cricket – and even he knows that.

By contrast, Neil Wagner is definitely a test specialist although one could say he would do alright in the shorter forms of the game if given the chance. He is definitely our quickest bowler.

Adam Milne is one for the future – he has potential to be quick although injuries have stymied his progress. Hopefully he doesn’t turn into another Ian Butler or Hamish Bennett, two NZ quicks who have had major injury issues.

Which leaves us with Tim Southee.

I’m not doubting that Tim Southee would be considered one of our premier bowlers given his record. However, as they say form is temporary, class is permanent, Tim is right now in a bit of a form slump not helped by a nagging injury.

At this point in time, given how the Sri Lanka series has transpired, Southee should just concentrate on test cricket, enabling Matt Henry to start in the one dayers and Twenty20s. This approach helped Trent Boult earlier in his career and should help Southee find the top form that we know he is capable of.

It is incredible to think that New Zealand cricket is in such a position that it could consider dropping its premier fast bowler on form only when in the past, we were trying to drag out a good game from our out-of-form players. Indeed, only our great rivals, Australia could boast to be in such a strong position with their bowlers – remember when Australia could pick when fit Stuart Clark, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken and Brad Williams?