Aaron Smith reveals why he ‘misses’ South African teams in Super Rugby after Israel Dagg sparks debate
Former All Blacks team-mates Aaron Smith and Israel Dagg.
Rugby greats Aaron Smith and Frans Steyn have added their voices to the debate sparked by former All Black Israel Dagg in midweek.
The ex-New Zealand international bemoaned South Africa’s departure from Super Rugby, with their franchises now aligning with the northern hemisphere.
Their big teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – now ply their trade in the United Rugby Championship alongside sides from Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Super Rugby Pacific
As a result of the South Africans’ departure, Super Rugby Pacific was set up in 2022 with Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika competing with the Australian and New Zealand outfits.
Some feel that the lack of Springboks stars in Super Rugby have devalued the competition and Dagg has been one of those to speak out.
“I went down a rabbit hole. I know we should be focusing on the now and what’s ahead of us this weekend. But man, I miss South Africa being a part of Super Rugby,” the former All Blacks flyer said on SENZ.
“Watching a clip on social media of a packed-out Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria as the Bulls won the Currie Cup and Super Rugby Final against who? Your Chiefs, Sammy.
“And it got me, thinking: ‘How the hell did we let them go?’ Our greatest rivals with arguably some of the greatest players to play the game constantly on our screens or even in the flesh, I’ll never forget my first trip to South Africa.
“A young kid playing for the Highlanders, travelling the globe to play against players I only thought of as cartoon characters. Suddenly, they were running at me, wanting to take my head off.
“The great Fourie du Preez playing mind games with me. Bakkies Botha – I’ll never forget this – laughing at me as I stood there bridging over the ball.
“Or Ryan Kankowski of the Sharks chipping it over my head and scoring a try that only the great Bryan Habana could emulate.”
Israel Dagg: ‘How the hell did we let the South African teams go?’
Smith’s view
Dagg’s comments certainly stirred debate, with Springboks supporters generally stating that they missed playing in the southern hemisphere tournament, before Smith had his say on the matter.
The legendary All Blacks scrum-half, who is now in Japan after 12 years with the Highlanders, agreed with his former Test team-mate and stated that playing South African teams, especially away from home, was good development for youngsters.
“@izzy_dagg man, I miss SA in Super Rugby too, bro. I feel for young lads who don’t get that tour experience,” Smith wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“It was always so good as a team to travel, experience big stadiums, and play tough rugby in the heat.”
Dagg’s comments also prompted a response from Boks great and current Cheetahs director of rugby Frans Steyn.
The Bloemfontein outfit, once part of Super Rugby, are now playing in the northern hemisphere’s ‘European’ Challenge Cup, but they have not been accepted into the URC.
“There are other teams in SA that want the opportunity!!” Steyn pointedly wrote on Instagram.
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