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What ‘grounded’ Aaron Smith after heartbreaking World Cup final defeat

Aaron Smith of New Zealand admires his runners up medal as he walks past The Webb Ellis Cup after defeat during the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aaron Smith is no longer an All Black. After more than 120 Test matches, the glistening international career of arguably the greatest halfback in Test rugby history came to a heartbreaking end.

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New Zealand were beaten 12-11 by a tough South African outfit in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France, but Smith still found a reason to smile after the decider.

You could see it on the All Blacks’ faces as the Springboks walked onto the podium to receive their gold medals at the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup – the New Zealanders were hurting.

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      But moments before, Aaron Smith had walked onto that very same stage to collect his silver medal. Smith showed his son the medal, and suddenly the fact it was silver wasn’t everything.

      Smith, 34, wanted to win the final, of course he did, but sharing that stage with one of his kids was a moment “you have to be grateful for.”

      So, Aaron Smith is no longer an All Black, but he is a dad.

      “I went to get my kids, they don’t know how you are feeling but they still love you. That really grounded me, they still love their dad,” Smith said.

      “He still loved the medal, those are the moments you have to be grateful for and brings things into perspective. Family is important.

      Knockout

      New Zealand
      South Africa
      11 - 12
      Final
      Argentina
      New Zealand
      6 - 44
      SF1
      England
      South Africa
      15 - 16
      SF2
      Wales
      Argentina
      17 - 29
      QF1
      Ireland
      New Zealand
      24 - 28
      QF2
      England
      Fiji
      30 - 24
      QF3
      France
      South Africa
      28 - 29
      QF4

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      “This game was important but I came off the field and I gave everything I could and the team had. Sport is like that. The memories I have made and been a part of, from the quarter-final, it has been a hell of a month.”

      The All Blacks can hold their heads up high after the painful defeat. Captain Sam Cane was red-carded midway through the first term which was a hammer blow to New Zealand’s hopes of World Cup glory.

      But to their credit, the All Blacks refused to throw in the towel. New Zealand even had a chance to snatch the title at the death but the Boks managed to hold on for gold.

      “We didn’t die wondering,” Smith told reporters. “I think we threw everything we had and the champions South Africa held strong in those key moments and they held strong in the moments, got turnovers.

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      “They nailed those little moments. That’s rugby. That’s Test match rugby and it’s brutal sometimes. It was an amazing game to be a part of and I was proud of our effort tonight.

      Match Summary

      2
      Penalty Goals
      4
      1
      Tries
      0
      0
      Conversions
      0
      0
      Drop Goals
      0
      149
      Carries
      85
      7
      Line Breaks
      4
      19
      Turnovers Lost
      9
      2
      Turnovers Won
      7

      “We always have plans around if we get cards and how our game changes, depending on what the position is of the guy carded,” Smith added when asked about Cane’s red card.

      “It was good at half-time to get some alignment on that and how we wanted to play and try to strike from scrums.

      “We held strong with one less forward and had opportunities but we just couldn’t get over the line again.”

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      Comments

      12 Comments
      C
      Chris 636 days ago

      He won a world cup in 2015, so he can be proud of his career. Well played Nugget

      C
      Chesterfield 636 days ago

      Hoea to waka ki te kainga i runga i te whakahīhī me te tohe kaha.

      Ko nga pakanga i whawhaitia e koe kua pa ki a ratou. Inaianei okioki me te whakapehapeha o te toa nui

      J
      Jacque 636 days ago

      Love this guys attitude. Even my wife says he seems very relaxed & humble about the defeat.

      D
      Drew 636 days ago

      Sad to see him go. What a player

      B
      Brad 637 days ago

      Class act that he acknowledged his family who would have had to sacrifice and stick beside him over the years to allow him to play this great sport. Legend and an inspiration to many Kiwi kids.

      D
      DM 637 days ago

      Small man with a huge heart and damn big boots to fill, well done nuggy, will miss seeing/hearing you out there urging on the boys. Full credit to a fantastic sportsman.👍👍👍

      B
      Blanco 637 days ago

      My favourite NZ player, even after our defeat in the QF when I saw footage of him crying with emotion I was almost happy for him, until I copped myself on.

      With the kid reminiscent of Johnny Sexton with his. “You’re still the best Daddy in the world”, etc.

      D
      Derik 637 days ago

      Aaron Smith is a cut above the rest.

      P
      Paul 637 days ago

      Family First.

      And like the humble amongst us, you learned your lesson. You swallowed your pride.

      And became/ reinvented yourself to be the best #9 in NZ.


      As a Bok supporter, my memory of the footage after the final wistle, is of Mr Smith walking, with a BIG smile on his face with his laaitie/son in his arm, and soaking up the privilege of having a family and being part of a WORD CUP FINAL.


      RESPECT.

      J
      Jon 637 days ago

      Aaron has been a fixture in the ABs - best wishes to him and his. Next man up…

      C
      Cam 637 days ago

      A legend of the modern game. He and the ABs can hold their heads high. (The Kiwis are too classy to repeat that 2019 incident.)

      J
      Jonathan 637 days ago

      Legend of the game. Top 3 scrum halves of all time. Massive respect to him as a player and a man.

      Regardless of the scoreboard, both teams deserved to walk away with a gold medal yesterday, but that’s the nature of sport at the highest level, especially when the 2 biggest teams in the world (sorry NH) go head to head.

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