By RUPERT GUINNESS in Montpellier - SMH | Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Wallabies flanker George Smith relishes the prospect of his All Black rival Richie McCaw being targeted as an illegal player by the World Cup referees.
Both openside specialists share an incredible ability for ball scavenging at the breakdown and testing the patience of referees by playing to the limit of laws.
But McCaw, the All Blacks captain, has found himself in front of the blowtorch of vigorous referees throughout this season at Super 14 and test levels.
And Smith, while one of the very best No7s after McCaw, is hardly sympathetic for the Kiwi – fairly or not – having developed a reputation for playing illegally.
"Perception is a lovely word. If the referee gets a perception of what a player is like then that is going to stay with him until it is proven otherwise,'' Smith said. "I am happy for him to get a lot more attention than myself. Then it takes away from his game and my game goes unnoticed. That's a good thing.''
Smith, whose his 80th test in last Saturday's World Cup opener against Japan in Lyon was highlighted by his brilliant 62nd-minute try, admits that mastering the art of a specialist No 7 involves mastering a battle of wits with the referee.
Smith says he doesn't keep hard copy files on referees (or players) to review in preparation for a match, as some players do on their opposition numbers.
But since his 2000 test debut against France, he has accrued a vast mental data base of knowledge about how they handle games and interpret the laws.
"I've played [under] a number of them to know how they play. I play what's in front of me,'' said Smith who will take mental notes about the World Cup referees while they handle other games in case they control a Wallaby match.
Smith took notice of English whistle-blower Tony Spreadbury's run of the World Cup opener between France and Argentina last Friday that saw the hosts lose.
"We saw on that first game that Spreadbury was very quick on the not releasing rule which benefits a lot of backrowers. It will always be consistent with different referees and you have to adapt,'' said Smith.
"This weekend, for the team that adapts to the referee a lot quicker, it will be an advantage for them.'' Smith will be focused on that exact task this Saturday when the Wallabies take on Wales in their biggest pool round at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
"It's an important game and a game that we definitely would love to win, and win convincingly,'' said Smith who was not in the side that drew 29-29 to Wales at Cardiff last November, but did play when they went down 24-22 there in 2005.
"'It's always been a difficult task playing the Welsh at Millennium Stadium. It will be no different this weekend. We will definitely have to bring our 'A game'.'' Smith, whose spot in the Wallabies starting side is under constant threat from Phil Waugh who captained it at Cardiff last year, is enjoying his best ever form.
His try against Japan when he tackled and ripped the ball from Japanese No 13 Koji Taira and bolted 35m to score was simply superb.
"I blindsided him, came up with the ball, fended him off and went to the tryline.
''That 30-40m felt like 100m, said Smith. ''I don't have too many tries in a Wallaby jersey. But it would have been one of my best. I had my auntie and my cousins up in the stand who I heard went crazy.''
On form, it is hard to imagine Smith being benched against Wales to allow Waugh's return to the XV after being missing the 22-man squad for Japan.
But wherever he is named in the 22-man lineup on Wednesday, Smith realises that with 80 caps already at the age of 27 he is fast approaching a 100th test.
"I would like to make that century. But you have to play consistently good. I feel I am in the greatest form. And I have never felt as strong as I am, '' he said.
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