Wayne Smith relishes one more All Black week

For All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith there was more than one reason to celebrate New Zealand’s 20-6 semi-final victory over Australia last weekend.

After announcing his plans to call time on his All Blacks coaching career following Rugby World Cup 2011, Smith was more than pleased to realise his tenure would continue for another week as the clock at Eden Park ticked over to show 80 minutes.

"I think it sunk in a while ago, that whatever happened this was my last week,” he said. “It was a special feeling in the box with about five minutes to go (in Sunday's semi-final against Australia), knowing that it was going to go another week.”

After taking the top job at the All Blacks for a year in 2000 before moving on to the Northampton Saints in England, the former New Zealand fly half joined Graham Henry as an assistant alongside Steve Hansen in 2004 to form the coaching trio that has helped steer the All Blacks to the verge of World Cup glory on Sunday.

But win or lose, the chance to be part of the RWC Final will be one of Smith’s proudest achievements as a coach.

"You can imagine how much effort, time and work by everyone has gone into getting to this situation,” he said. "You get an opportunity to be in a final, that is all you want.

“One team is going to come away as World Cup winners on Sunday and you just want that opportunity."

Players' praise

As Smith prepares to sit alongside Henry and Hansen one last time before he moves on to join Super Rugby club the Waikato Chiefs, many of the players have also reflected on the time they’ve spent under “Smithy” at the All Blacks.

"He's just a great man,” Andy Ellis said. “He's the coach I find really easy to sit down and have a chat to about anything.

“He's obviously got so much experience, he's seen just about everything so he sort of knows what to say at the right time."

While Richard Kahui is already looking forward to continuing his relationship with Smith at the Chiefs next year, the wing says the 54-year-old has been an integral part of his career since he made his debut in the All Blacks jersey in 2008.

“I suppose every coach you take bits and pieces from everyone and keep the best stuff and Smithy has given us a lot of tools,” he said. "Just little things, as little as coming into the team and realising you have to look up to see what's in front of you, the emphasis they put on looking up and playing what's in front.

“Just how much emphasis there is on the basic skills. Passing, kicking, catching, just driving that area and forcing everyone to be a better player.”

Cruden confidence

New Zealand’s newest star fly half Aaron Cruden, who has taken over the No.10 jersey at RWC2011 following Dan Carter’s groin injury, credits a lot of his personal improvement to the belief Wayne Smith instils in him as a player.

"He just gives each player confidence,” Cruden said. “He tells you to go out there and back yourself, he doesn't tell you to go into your shell which some players might do in the Test arena. He really gives you that confidence to go out there and express yourself and be the player that you are and that's why you're picked in the team.

"For me that's something that I've really taken from him and it's really given me the confidence to go out there in the last couple of games and do what I do."

Wayne Smith has often claimed that his blood flows black, but while he prepares for one last match with the All Blacks, Smith says the time is right to leave the team he holds so dear.

“I’ve had a lot of years and I wouldn’t swap them for anything,” he said. “You know they’re the greatest days of your life but everything’s got to move on. You’ve just got to make decisions that are right for both parties really and this is the right one.

“It’s felt right for a while and I’ll get my fix elsewhere.”