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Super Rugby: Highlanders vs. Chiefs in Dunedin (22/02/2013)
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 553606" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I can only assume it is because there are two Ben Smith running around the domestic scene, both playing the same position/s (Ben S Smith still plays for Bay of Plenty....). Ben S Smith also had a couple of seasons with the Highlanders, is a fashion designer, online marketer (<a href="http://billyelusiv.com/" target="_blank">http://billyelusiv.com/</a>), and is also known as Billy Elusiv (and is a really nice guy too, as I met him a number of times when we were at Otago Uni...).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I don't think you are giving him near enough credit. Yes he is the most reliable fullback in the country, but he is also among the most dangerous - indeed over the last 3 years he has always been among the top linebreakers in Super Rugby. He certainly doesn't have the pace, power, or elusive skills of many of the fullbacks going around the country, but he still manages to break the line almost at will, as he seems to have a phenomenal eye for the gap. Interestingly scrum.com suggest he made 5 linebreaks in the Chiefs match alone! Almost every time he touches the ball for the Highlanders these days something happens - it may not be exciting for a neutral fan, but as I Highlanders fan I get excited every time he gets his hand on the ball, as you know something good is going to happen (the video above is a great example of this). </p><p></p><p>Smith looked very impressive for the AB's last season despite the fact he didn't actually get much (if any?) gametime in his preferred position. He has consistently out-performed Israel Dagg (and any other NZ fullback for that matter) at Super Rugby level for the last 3 years, so surely he deserves a shot in the 15 jersey at test level. I think he would make a superb test 13 too, and it looks like he is being groomed to take over Conrad Smith's jersey when he takes a sabbatical at the end of the year.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 553606, member: 24910"] I can only assume it is because there are two Ben Smith running around the domestic scene, both playing the same position/s (Ben S Smith still plays for Bay of Plenty....). Ben S Smith also had a couple of seasons with the Highlanders, is a fashion designer, online marketer ([URL]http://billyelusiv.com/[/URL]), and is also known as Billy Elusiv (and is a really nice guy too, as I met him a number of times when we were at Otago Uni...). I don't think you are giving him near enough credit. Yes he is the most reliable fullback in the country, but he is also among the most dangerous - indeed over the last 3 years he has always been among the top linebreakers in Super Rugby. He certainly doesn't have the pace, power, or elusive skills of many of the fullbacks going around the country, but he still manages to break the line almost at will, as he seems to have a phenomenal eye for the gap. Interestingly scrum.com suggest he made 5 linebreaks in the Chiefs match alone! Almost every time he touches the ball for the Highlanders these days something happens - it may not be exciting for a neutral fan, but as I Highlanders fan I get excited every time he gets his hand on the ball, as you know something good is going to happen (the video above is a great example of this). Smith looked very impressive for the AB's last season despite the fact he didn't actually get much (if any?) gametime in his preferred position. He has consistently out-performed Israel Dagg (and any other NZ fullback for that matter) at Super Rugby level for the last 3 years, so surely he deserves a shot in the 15 jersey at test level. I think he would make a superb test 13 too, and it looks like he is being groomed to take over Conrad Smith's jersey when he takes a sabbatical at the end of the year. [/QUOTE]
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Super Rugby: Highlanders vs. Chiefs in Dunedin (22/02/2013)
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