Aaron Smith is to join the All Blacks for their final two games of their Autumn Series against Ireland and France, after the birth of his second child last week.
Smith played his 100th Test against Australia during the Bledisloe Cup before staying home for with his pregnant wife.
Smith playing with Manawatū Turbos in the NPC and welcomed baby boy Leo with wife Teagan last week.
Smith will travel as injury cover for Brad Weber, who suffered a head knock and sustained a broken nose nine minutes into last weekend’s Italy clash.
All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod said Weber was feeling symptom free after failing an head injury assessment (HIA) against Italy, but had to “go through an independent concussion specialist process.”
“I’m very excited to come back and join the boys,” Smith said. “Two very big games for the lads which is very exciting to be a part of. I’m just looking to try and help where I can, bring a bit of energy.
“The boys have done so well and it was great to watch them and be a fan from afar, but deep down knowing I’d love to be there as well. Since my boy arrived, Teagan was all for it. It was a pretty short conversation. She was like ‘go, this is a great opportunity for you’.
“I’m going in with no expectations on playing or anything but I’ll be trying to do my best to impact where I can.
“Little Leo is fit and healthy, loves the milk and is starting to put a little weight on which is great. It was pretty tough this morning at 4.45am saying my goodbyes, but I’m feeling grateful for Teagan who blessed that I’ve got to go and this is an opportunity for [me] to finish the year.
“I’m happy and excited but it was a little sad. I’m here excited to join the team and ready. Just can’t wait.”
Smith will join the squad in Dublin midweek.
Meanwhile, Ken Owens will miss the rest of Wales’ Autumn Nations Series with a back injury.
Owens was absent from Saturday’s 23-18 loss to world champions South Africa and has now pulled out of coach Wayne Pivac’s squad for games against Fiji and Australia.
Bluesfan
Yip, a very very impressive team, think the AB's were totally out-coached and played, really Scoreboard made the AB's look better than they actually were. Given their performance on the weekend don't think the Boks would have being able to beat Ireland - big question now is can they start doing that week in and out. Along with France, England and even Scotland, have never seen Nth have so many good teams - WC final could very easily be amongst 2 Nth teams.
Derm
Roar Guru
Cheers Re performance. 1. Change of coach - Schmidt had them in a straitjacket game plan at that point. 2. The playing group has changed a fair bit: Last squad against NZ in 2019 Kearney - retired Earls - bench Henshaw - injured Stockdale - not selected Murray - bench Stander - retired O'Mahony - bench Best- retired Healy - bench Scannell - not selected Kilcoyne - not selected Beirne - bench Ruddock - not selected McGrath - not selected Carbery - bench Larmour - not selected. The younger/newer players who've come in - Keenan, Conan, Doris, Kelleher, Gibson-Park, Lowe are also keeping them on their toes. Porter's switch to LH has also helped. And the strong Leinster combos that Farrell has selected. But he still has work to do and bring on some other players - some of whom will play next week vs Argentina. He can't rely on Healy, Sexton, O'Mahony, Murray, Earls to be around/good enough for RWC 23
Bluesfan
Just remember - you can say you now own a bit of the Haka (with Euro's that is)! Well done for the win by the way - Ireland were amazing, AB's were absoutely owned and you can only ask, why they didn't put that type of performance out at the WC. If they had - could have gone all the way basis that performance.
Derm
Roar Guru
Absolutely. Well done on getting that call right.
Bluesfan
Ah yes the AB’s lost today to the Irish BaBas – with the 3 “Project Players” being some of the best on field.. Great to see Ireland getting value for their Euro’s – at least when you are buying in players, it’s great to see them perform and return on the cash spent on them..
Derm
Roar Guru
You were right, Bluesfan - good call. Lowe scored - although apparently his father's grandparents are English.... still it's close enough I suppose. Although apparently, some Aitutakians are proud to have Irish roots - I hadn't been aware of that.
WEST
Roar Guru
No smith this weekend.. The matchday 23 is: 1. Joe Moody (55) 2. Codie Taylor (65) 3. Nepo Laulala (38) 4. Brodie Retallick (90) 5. Samuel Whitelock – captain (130) 6. Ethan Blackadder (8) 7. Dalton Papalii (11) 8. Ardie Savea (57) 9. TJ Perenara (77) 10. Beauden Barrett (100) 11. Sevu Reece (16) 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (55) 13. Rieko Ioane (45) 14. Will Jordan (11) 15. Jordie Barrett (34) 16. Dane Coles (78) 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (24) 18. Tyrel Lomax (13) 19. Tupou Vaa’i (10) 20. Akira Ioane (11) 21. Finlay Christie (5) 22. Richie Mo’unga (30) 23. David Havili (13)
Derm
Roar Guru
There’s a thought.
Bluesfan
Sure you will be super proud when one of your Maori All Blacks runs in a try for Ireland! Pretty obvious really that Ireland is in reality the ancestrial home of Polynesia....
Derm
Roar Guru
Oh yes of course.
WEST
Roar Guru
I like what you’re saying Nick. :thumbup: we need to get better in that area of the game. We can’t have our guys getting isolated and picked off, it all starts and ends in the engine room.. Especially against teams like Ireland or France. They would have seen what SA did, they liked what they saw against Italy. That Italian game could work in our favour.. Made us look weak, vulnerable. Then Bang! We strike fast furiously.
Nick
Roar Rookie
We put numbers in against Wales & low & behold dominated the ruck. Or we can put in one or two like we did against SA (ridiculous when they're hitting in numbers) with the predictable slow ball/turnovers.
WEST
Roar Guru
Exactly Nick, the breakdown work is crucial! The forwards have to front up, Ireland will want to dominate the contact area.. Our Big boys up front have to roll their sleeves up and dish out some punishment, make each tackle count. Back to basics, but doing the basics efficiently. Ireland are frothing for this. The ABs pack has to fire up.. Or it’s not going to end well for the All Blacks
Nick
Roar Rookie
Not a weakness if we actually commit numbers to the breakdown...
Nick
Roar Rookie
I don't think that joke will "fly" around here eh eh eh... Or... Let's put a lid on these sorts of jokes ????
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are right Bluff. As soon as younger boys learnt how to walk, we knew how to run straight away to escape the girl’s! Only problem was that they knew how to run also. :shocked:
FatOldHalfback
Roar Rookie
A Smith v A Dupont -- as an old halfback this is THE clash of the year. Stylistically different but both can boss the game. (yeah Faf is good but we missed out on a clash with Smith)
Jacko
Roar Rookie
haha i did marry a good Invercargill girl. :laughing:
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Maybe where you come from Jacko :silly:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Any more and Ireland will want to do a HAKA!!!