On Saturday evening returning flanker George Smith won his 10th Brett Robinson Player’s Player award at the University of Canberra Brumbies end of season Presentation Night.
In what was definitely his final season with the Brumbies, Smith extended his already massive record of winning the award to 10. The last occasion he won being in 2010. George Smith is also the club’s most capped player with 142 appearances.
Smith left the University of Canberra Brumbies after the 2010 Super Rugby season and headed to France where he played with Toulon before moving to Japan to link with Suntory. He also enjoyed a short-term stint with iconic Parisian outfit, Stade Francais in 2012
This season Smith rejoined the Brumbies after representing Suntory in the Japanese league where he helped the club claiming the it’s fifth title. He then was an inspired recruitment by coach Jake White. Smith’s experience helped guide the Brumbies to the Super Rugby final where they were beaten by defending Champions the Chiefs.
The success of Smith and his recruitment by former Springbok coach Jake White was an issue not lost on many in South Africa. As Springbok coach White frequently bemoaned the work done by Smith at the breakdown, and questioned whether at times he in fact was infringing on the laws of the game. In South Africa flankers are often referred to as ‘fetchers’ and when White was asked why the 33 year old was so successful by a South African journalist he smiled and replied, ‘because he fetches.’
It would appear it is great when you have a player like Smith playing for you, not quite the same when he is playing for the opposition. The same is no doubt said about Richie McCaw and also David Pocock when fit.
Smith was an inspired selection by White as a replacement for the injured Pocock and his tenth award is testament to a truly great player.
