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Ben Smith of Otago - Source: Photosport -
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Otago fullback Ben Smith made a last minute decision on Sunday morning that clearly paid off, reports tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
Ben Smith awoke on Sunday morning and five minutes before the All Blacks' 33-man squad for the tour of Japan, Europe and UK was to be announced, he and his girlfriend Katie made an impulse decision.
"At 9.55 this morning, me and my girlfriend decided to book the Rugby Channel to see who gets in the team - and we were rapt," Smith told ONE News.
Smith joins Bay of Plenty's Mike Delany, Hawke's Bay's Zac Guildford and Wellington's Tamati Ellison as debutant All Blacks, and he admits that he could not believe his name had been read out.
"We recorded it (the team-naming), watched again and then both looked at each other and thought we were dreaming," Smith says.
Smith might have thought he was dreaming, but it is little surprise that his common surname will again be represented in the elite All Blacks club. Ben will become the 12th Smith in All Blacks history, the most of any surname, to don the famous strip.
And while that quirk of history will mean little to the 23-year-old, the achievement of fulfilling a childhood dream certainly does.
"I suppose ever since you're a young fellow, you sort of dream it, but you don't ever know if it's going to come true. But it's always a dream," he says.
Smith's selection comes on the back of electrifying form for an Otago side that has had another season of inconsistency. His man-of-the match performance against Waikato last Saturday, where he set up two tries and scored one himself, showcased his nose for a gap and blinding speed in stunning fashion.
The Otago fullback has been earmarked as a wing-three quarter for the tour and has bolted past veteran Joe Rokocoko, Harbour flyer Rudi Wulf and Wellington powerhouse Hosea Gear.
His selection is indicative of the modern day game where wingers need to be assured under the high ball. Indeed it is conceivable that three fullbacks - Smith, Cory Jane and Mils Muliaina - could all fill the three outside back positions at some stage on this tour.
Smith doesn't care where he plays though.
"Yeah, I'm sort of happy wherever I play, either one (wing or fullback) is fine with me."
