Aaron Smith sends strong message to Dupont with outrageous assist
While the world goes crazy about how good Antoine Dupont is, All Blacks and Highlanders No9 Aaron Smith sent a timely reminder of what he is also capable of on Friday.
Smith and his Highlanders team have struggled thus far this Super Rugby Pacific season, but you would not have thought that with their showing against Moana Pasifika at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Two first half tries to winger Mosese Dawai got the Highlanders off to the perfect start, with Smith producing a piece of magic for one of them. With a ruck just centimetres from the Moana Pasifika line on the left hand side of the field, Smith shaped up to pass to his right, which was the openside of the field. Instead, he produced an audacious hot dog pass through his legs to put Dawai in the corner. Though it may not have been intended, it was actually a miss pass as well, as the ball sailed over the head of Mitch Hunt.
The Highlanders came away 37-17 winners to register their first win of the season.
Highlanders XV
1 Ethan De Groot
2 Andrew Makalio
3 Jermaine Ainsley
4 Manaaki Selby-Rickit
5 Josh Dickson
6 Shannon Frizell
7 James Lentjes
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9 Aaron Smith (C)
10 Mitch Hunt
11 Mosese Dawai
12 Scott Gregory
13 Fetuli Paea
14 Sam Gilbert
15 Connor Garden-Bachop
Replacements
16 Rhys Marshall
17 Ayden Johnstone
18 Saula Mau
19 Max Hicks *
20 Gareth Evans **
21 Folau Fakatava
22 Vilimoni Koroi
23 Denny Solomona
*Debut
** 50th Super Rugby Highlanders Cap
Moana Pasifika XV
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2 Luteru Tolai
3 Sekope Kepu (c)
4 Veikoso Poloniati
5 Samuel Slade
6 Solomone Funaki
7 Alamanda Motuga
8 Penitoa Finau
9 Ereatara Enari
10 Christian Leali’ifano
11 Timoci Tavatavanawai
12 Danny Toala
13 Levi Aumua
14 Tima Fainga’anuku
15 William Havili
Replacements
16 Samiuela Moli
17 Abraham Pole
18 Chris Apoua
19 Mahonri Ngakuru
20 Sione Tu’ipulotu
21 Jonathan Taumateine
22 Lincoln McClutchie
23 Fine Inisi
Take a look at the try:
🤯 Through the legs @Te_Nug #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/NViG0jHOCy
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 8, 2022
