The Beginning
Ben Smith was a stalwart for Bay of Plenty in his early career. He made his debut against Italy in 2009 and has since established himself as a key player in the All Blacks side that won back to back Rugby World Cups. Unfortunately, he missed out on selection for the 2011 show piece. If you think about how good he is currently, it is hard to believe that he initially struggled to be a regular in the All Blacks setup.
His Prime and Legacy
Smith was in sublime form in the 2012 Super Rugby season, resulting in his recall to the national setup. He was initially touted to take the outside centre role, but with Conrad Smith in the mix, he had to settle at full back and occasionally perform on the wing.
Since his debut he has scored an impressive 27 test tries and he is regarded as one one of the best attacking players in the world. He is strong under the high ball and is lethal on the counter attack. His support play is also impressive and he often just has to round off a promising attack.
In June 2017, he was named as All Black captain for the test against Samoa. He continues to be an integral part of the All Black team heading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
