EDITOR’S LETTER
IT WOULD BE HARD for anyone not to find Ben Smith’s story inspiring. That he’s been able to become the All Blacks vice-captain and one of the most respected players in world rugby is testament to his patience, character and resilience. There are so many good things about Smith that it’s hard to know where to begin. Probably the best place is to go right back to the start of his international journey, which had such an inauspicious beginning. Perhaps it was indicative of his lack of self-belief that Smith’s first touch in international rugby was a shocker. He was a genuine bolter in the All Blacks squad that toured Japan and Europe at the end of 2009. He’d played Super Rugby that year but not many people had noticed. A fair few…