Rugby: Ben Smith full of industry

As his opposite, Lelia Masaga, rightly hogged the headlines with a devastating return to form capped by tries in each half, Ben Smith showed he's hardly a spent force after an adroit performance in Bay of Plenty's 38-17 win over North Harbour.
Handed a start on the left wing after Jason Hona's successful promotion to partner Phil Burleigh in midfield, the 28-year-old former Highlander utility, just back from an off-season in Italy, mixed a couple of try-saving tackles with a thrilling bonus-point try in the game's final minute as the Bay hoisted themselves to the top of the premiership standings, three clear of Canterbury and Auckland, with a second successive win over a championship (second-
tier) side.
Inching closer to 20 games for the province from which he made the national schoolboys' side a decade ago, Smith was full of industry, nicely counter-balancing Masaga's full noise on the other side of the park.
Sent over for the bonus-clinching try by quick hands from Luke Braid and Dan Waenga, Smith was intent on making up for being pinged minutes earlier for not releasing the ball inches from the tryline after a deft burst infield by replacement halfback Jamie Nutbrown.
"I felt like an 800m runner there at the end of that (failed) move with the lactic acid build-up in my legs and the finish line snuck up a few metres too soon. I had to make amends  and, with the field position we had in that last 10 minutes, the boys were  confident the fourth try would come."
Apparently some thought it already had. Smith said there was confusion among the players at how many tries had been scored.
"Some of the boys weren't sure if we had four already and some - probably forwards - thought we'd got four so we got another one just to make sure. I'd butchered a couple and the legs were gone, with the match fitness not there, so there was happiness at being back and contributing."
Smith's slick offering has increased the size of the selection headache for coaches Sean Horan and Paul Feeney, especially with Chiefs arch-rivals Waikato looming in Rotorua tomorrow night. But you won't hear the wing grumbling.
"There's competition developing for spots, although that's probably not even the best way to describe it this season. It's about who has the best squad not necessarily the best 15 players out on the field each week. The coaches are being smart and managing the players and everyone's contributing to a strong squad.
"Tonight,  Lats (former All Black Tanerau Latimer) didn't  play and Braidy slotted into that spot but (tomorrow) the mix could be completely different. It's about ensuring you lose nothing when changes are made."