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Opinion
The careers of George Smith and Richie McCaw almost travel along the same paths, they were even born in the same year, 1980.
Smith made his rugby Test debut slightly earlier in 2000, compared to McCaw in 2001, Smith went on to become the second most capped flanker, behind guess who?
Both had outstanding provincial careers, in line with the theme, McCaw made 145 Crusaders appearances and Smith 142 matches for the Brumbies. The pair alternated between flanker and Number 8 throughout their career and captained their countries.
Remarkably, Smith and McCaw made their Test debuts in the same year of their provincial debuts, both going on end of season tours.
I am not sure who was the forerunner of the breakdown proficiency, maybe it was coincidental that they were both acknowledged as the finest in the art. There are videos available of George Smith instructing his fellow players into the dark secrets of legally securing the ball at the breakdown.
It takes great skill and strength to stay on your feet while pilfering the tackled ball, both McCaw and Smith were experts at it. They were the foragers, the thieves in the night, the burglars who “stole” the prized possession. The breakdown being unique to rugby, compared to all the other winter sports.
It is like the one on-one-strip in rugby league but takes place on the ground. Turnover ball can be invaluable in defensive and attacking situations.
McCaw spent his career swotting away claims of “cheating” at the breakdown, with some of his fellow New Zealand players admitting he was an “infuriating opponent.”
A young George Smith alongside Shane Warne and Wendell Sailor. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
The one major difference between Richie McCaw and George Smith, is that Smith was somewhat of a rugby nomad, plying his trade in France, England and Japan.
Whereas McCaw was interested in only playing for the Crusaders and All Blacks. His solution for keeping players at home was “You’ve just got to make it really hard for guys to make that decision to go overseas, through team culture, history and success,” reported 1 News.
Smith appears to have established a fine reputation amongst the overseas clubs he played for including Toulon, Stade Francais, Lyon, Wasps and the Bristol Bears.
In 2011 he became the highest paid Australian rugby player when he signed a three year deal worth 3.3 million dollars with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
Bristol Bears Head coach Pat Lam said: “George remains one of the most physically impressive and intelligent flankers in the world. His qualities are obvious: tremendous leadership, excellent decision making, dedication to the team and unrivalled experience.”
Bristol Bears Academy tweeted how Smith continued to work tirelessly in training in his final week as a professional player.
They said, “Young players trying to be the best they can – be like George!”
If Richie McCaw had moved overseas would he have been the dominant player he was with the formidable Crusaders and All Blacks?
He was surrounded by tremendous players in both sides and obviously benefitted from that. Smith by venturing overseas showed he could be a class player in a variety of sides and cultures.
He had an all-round game that included bone crunching tackles, a deft kicking game, good speed and athletic ability. Smith showed his running ability and ball skills in Japan, because of the fast rugby played there.
George Smith was signed to the ACT Brumbies by Eddie Jones in 1999, with his dreadlocked hairstyle a feature. He was named the Brett Robinson Players Player eight times for the Brumbies.
Smith retired from all rugby at the age of thirty-eight with a massive 111 Test caps for the Wallabies.
George Gregan said he was “an iconic Number 7” and Stephen Moore praised him by saying, “he was a consistent player, always playing at eight, nine or ten out of ten.”
Richie McCaw lifts the 2011 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Smith recalls his Brumbies debut, ”the day I rocked up to sign my first Brumbies contract with dreadlocked hair, board shorts and thongs [flip-flops], I think back and shake my head as to why coach Eddie Jones didn’t just turn me away right there and then.” Eddie Jones labelled the loose forward as, “the greatest player he ever coached.”
One intriguing statistic from George Smith, was when he was recalled to the Wallabies in 2013 for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
He was named as the starting flanker for the third and deciding Test in Sydney and broke Colin Meads record of 4382 days between his first Test against the Lions and his last Test against them.
George Smith is a Wallabies legend, highly skilled, an inspirational leader, who altered the breakdown concept in Australia. Did Richie McCaw learn from Smith, was it vice versa or were both just fortunate to learn at the same time?
George Smith, a favourite Wallaby.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.