All Blacks relish return to legacy rugby

Provincial and inter-island games connect with the past

It's back to the future for All Blacks who thought they had left lower levels of New Zealand's rugby behind them.

Prospects of playing in the inter-provincial Mitre 10 Cup and possibly inter-island games are high on the post-coronavirus rugby prospects as New Zealand looks to get its rugby environment back on the road.

All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, who is enjoying having another Manawatu player join the Highlanders with fellow international Nehe Milner-Skudder signing on, is also looking forward to possibly notching another milestone in his career.

He said the chance to play in Mitre 10 was something of a silver lining to the Covid crisis. He hadn't played in the competition for nearly 10 years.

"Not because I haven't wanted to but just because of things and making the All Blacks. To pass the ball to Aaron Cruden who passes it to Ngani [Laumape] who passes it to Rob Thompson and Nehe…but just to wear green and white again would be a buzz for me.

"That's where it all started for me. My passion for Feilding, Palmerston North and Manawatu region is deep. My memories of running out at FMG Stadium as it was back then and to be just wearing green and white would be great.

"And it would be great to play with [Aaron] Cruden again if that chance happens, even Ngani [Laumape] but just to wear the green and white would be great.

"I'm a big man around goals and I'm a few games short of 50 so if I could get out there and play and try and knock that up it would be pretty awesome too but if it doesn't happen this year I'll be looking to finish out my career, definitely in the green and white jersey," he said.

Milner-Skudder's arrival had been a boost for the Highlanders and both Smith and coach Aaron Mauger said he was already having an impact with the team.

"It's just great to have him around the environment. He's such a good man off the field. Yesterday we got to see that hot feet and speed and agility that we are used to seeing Nehe do and it's just good to have another Manawatu boy down here," Smith said.

Hurricanes and All Blacks hooker Dane Coles said it would be 'awesome' if all the All Blacks got to play in the Mitre 10 Cup and he was keen to play again for Wellington.

"We don't get to play against some of our Hurricanes teammates as well so I think that will be extra special lining up against some of your mates that we don't usually get the chance to do.

"We're very happy that hopefully, we lead down that road.

"New Zealand rugby players fully support the Mitre 10 going ahead and getting back to our roots. It will be very special," he said.

Things were also looking promising for a Bledisloe Cup series to happen while there was also talk of a couple of North-South games and some All Black trials – a step back in time to more traditional fixtures on the New Zealand scene.

"There are some really good things in the pipeline but the Mitre 10 and Bledisloe Cup would be awesome to restart the year," Coles said.