Grand final defeat won't tempt veteran George Smith back for one more shot with Brumbies

A HEARTBREAKING grand final defeat will not convince legend George Smith to return for one more shot at the title with the Brumbies.

THE heartbreaking grand final defeat suffered last Saturday night will not convince legend George Smith to return for one more shot at the title with the Brumbies.

Unlike earlier in the week when Smith hinted he may return again in extreme circumstances, the flanker was far more definitive after the Brumbies’ 27-22 defeat to the Chiefs in the Super Rugby decider that his career in Australia is over.

Smith, 33, confirmed his intention to finish his illustrious career in Japan – from where he made a shock return to Canberra this season after being given a temporary pass from club Suntory.

While he was hurting as much as any other Brumbies player in Hamilton, it won’t be enough to convince Smith to go around again.

“It doesn’t give me a burning desire to come back,” Smith said.

“I’ve known this was going to be my last year with the Brumbies, whether it was a supportive role for Dave Pocock and Colby [Fainga’a] or just as a person who mentors the players week to week.

“It was never going to be me coming here and seeing if I can get another contract here. I’m really enjoying my time in Suntory, I’ve been grateful for the support they’ve given me.

“It’s not me wanting to come back again, because I’ve had my swansong.

“To play a final, and reaffirm in myself that I can play at this level at this age, and to do quite well [is satisfying].”

Asked about his future, Smith replied: “I’m contracted one more season with the Suntory team, I’ll look to negotiate two more, and that will probably see me out.”

Smith bows out as the greatest flanker Australia has produced, and one of the best of all time.

His sustained excellence and longevity is a marvel.

Even in his final outing in the Brumbies jersey last Saturday, Smith was causing havoc for the Chiefs at the ruck until they powered home in the final 15 minutes.

“I feel I’ve come here and been a positive influence, and that’s all you can ask for when you do come back to a team,” said Smith, who now sits alongside George Gregan and Stephen Larkham for most appearances in Super Rugby finals for the Brumbies with five.

“Personally I know this is going to be my last, I just wanted to go out the way I feel I should have.

“Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.

“I was emotional, feeling all those emotions of the hard work you put in throughout the year. It was hard for a few minutes after that final whistle.”

While Smith made an incredible impact in his comeback season after three years abroad, even making the Wallabies for the third Test against the Lions, he leaves frustrated at losing the biggest games of 2013.

“It keeps on eluding me, that fairytale,” he said. “The British & Irish Lions, I didn’t get it there, [and against the Chiefs].

“But look, the positive for me is I’ve come into a group of Brumbies that I see are developing well, maturing well.

“There is still a bit of fight within this team.

“Being away from the team for three years and then coming back, seeing the rotation of players and seeing the desire the players have to achieve, I think it’s great.

“I never thought I’d be back here in a Brumbies jersey when I did leave in 2010.

“I left on my terms and the Brumbies were great to allow me to do that, as it was a family decision to go to France, and just have the family unit together.”

Smith rejoins Suntory next week, finishing with 111 Test caps for the Wallabies and 142 Super Rugby caps for the Brumbies.

We will never see another like him.