Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

England v New Zealand: All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith says 'there is no better test'

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Wednesday, 16 November 2022 10:01

All Blacks great Aaron Smith says "there is no better test" than facing England at Twickenham, adding it is a fixture that "gets the blood going".

The two sides meet on Saturday for only the third time in eight years.

And Smith feels playing England on their home turf is one of the biggest challenges in rugby.

"I woke up on Sunday morning thinking, this is the week, this is where you want to be," the scrum-half said.

"There's no better Test than playing England at Twickenham," added Smith.

England have only faced the All Blacks twice during head coach Eddie Jones' seven-year tenure - in that period they have taken on Australia 11 times - with a narrow loss in 2018 followed by a famous win in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

While Smith says 2022 has been an altogether tougher experience for the All Blacks - with the side losing four times this year - he admits memories of that World Cup defeat still linger.

"Probably more of a let-down that day for us was not showing up," added the 33-year-old.

"Everyone talks about how England dominated us, but when you don't throw a punch and don't find a way to get back into the game it's pretty gutting.

"I wouldn't say that semi-final was all about how good they played, they just had a really good plan and shocked us early and we couldn't get out of it.

"For some of us in that group there is scar tissue, but this year has been pretty tough as an All Black with some of the turmoil and off-field stuff and the media and everything. It's probably been worse than that semi-final loss."

'Facing All Blacks was a dream'

While the experienced Smith, who has 113 caps, has faced England seven times since his debut in 2012, Jonny Hill is preparing for his first clash with the All Blacks.

"Growing up watching England against the All Blacks, it's something I have always dreamt of doing," the Sale lock told BBC 5 live.

"To stand in front of that Haka on Saturday evening will be something special for me and I can't wait to get into it.

"There's a common correlation to beating the All Blacks; you have to go after them. If you stand off them and let them do their thing, they will punish you for it.

"So we are going to have to go after them."

Read 174 times

Soccer

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli fans and club officials paid tribute to Diego Maradona on th...

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo netted a pair of goals in Al Nassr's Asian Champi...

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDavid Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forwar...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant was in the lineup Monday night for the...

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday...

Baseball

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Robinson Chirinos replaced Fredi González on Monday as...

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involvi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated