Aaron Smith won the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 2015, but still rates the All Blacks’ victory over Ireland last weekend as his proudest moment in Test rugby.
The 34-year-old is buoyant as a result, but wary, too. New Zealand found a way to topple Ireland 28-24 in Paris in the quarter-finals, but the match pushed both sides beyond the limit.
Just six days later, Smith and New Zealand have to go again, this time in facing Argentina in tonight’s first semi-final.
The All Blacks saw off Ireland comfortably at the World Cup in 2019, only to bomb out to England in the semis.
That defeat still hurts this New Zealand group, Smith included, and Ian Foster’s side are determined to stop history repeating itself.
“That was the proudest All Blacks performance I’ve been part of,” said Smith, of the nail-biting quarter-final win. “The build-up, the emotion, the game, the spectacle. It felt like that game went on for two days, that second half felt like forever. But it was so much fun, [so much] intensity and two teams just not giving up.
“For our boys to control that last 10 minutes was the proudest thing. Then to defend 37 phases, stay onside, not to give them an opportunity and for one of our senior players to nail the moment was pretty special. We’re lucky enough to have another opportunity this weekend and we want to be better than we were last week.
“I’m an emotional person and I use things to fuel me. I remember being in the same position four years ago and we didn’t get it right that night. The messaging this week has been about taking those lessons.”
Argentina will lean on their two victories over New Zealand in the last three years as proof positive they can again demystify the All Blacks. Head coach Michael Cheika laughed off suggestions that the Pumas will pray for rain, in what traditionally would be seen as a contest leveller.
“Rain would change the game-plan, but the basics stay the same,” said Cheika. “I’m very powerful, but I don’t yet control the weather. That’s above my pay grade!
“We want to inspire people not just through our results but through our ambition, to get back up and overcome obstacles. It’s not about results, it’s about our behaviour in general, our ability to come back from difficult times, to seize opportunities.”
Felipe Contepomi piloted Argentina’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in France in 2007, and has now taken a key coaching role in the Pumas’ backroom. Cheika paid high tribute to the former Bristol and Leinster playmaker.
“Felipe has been unreal, he has a lot of good, new ideas, and one of his strengths is being extremely open,” he said. “He is very opinionated, but he opens his mind to look at new things.
“Great players don’t always make the best coaches, but he was a great player and he is going to be a great coach.”
