Smith vows to do better for All Blacks in semi-final
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France : New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith said he would deliver an improved performance in Friday’s World Cup semi-final after admitting his erratic display in last weekend's quarter-final against Ireland might have cost his team dearly.
Smith, one of the game’s all-time greats and a World Cup winner eight years ago, said he made a slow start at the Stade de France then let his team mates down by earning 10 minutes in the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on just before halftime.
The All Blacks still managed to come out on top 28-24 against the Irish to earn a place in the last four.
“Going into this game, I really want to start better,” Smith said of Friday’s semi-final against Argentina at the same venue.
“My execution was off for a good chunk of the last game and I cost our team dearly with a yellow card and my first two passes found no one.
“Personally, I’m just trying to make sure I can execute my role for the team. In the second half, I was able to do that, do my job, trust my instincts, and play.
"So, using the energy and lessons from four years ago, and just making sure I’m in a position to execute my role as best as I can.”
Smith, who will take up a club contract in Japan after the World Cup, is one of 12 squad members in France who were involved in a 19-7 loss to England in Yokohama in the semi-finals four years ago.
“In the sense of just remembering the pain of it, probably, is a big driver, especially for a few of us boys who were there. That feeling probably helped us reset after what was quite an emotional everything-on-the line week last week.
“That's been the big lesson for us, taking the positives, acknowledging the step we took and how much that cost. Body, physically, emotionally and mentally,”