Wayne Smith picks Chiefs and NZ

Wayne Smith says his own moral code played a part in his decision this week to ink a two-year deal as Dave Rennie's assistant with the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
Smith has signed with the Hamilton-based franchise for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, joining new head coach Rennie and assistant coach Tom Coventry. Smith will finish with the All Blacks at the end of the year.
The former All Blacks first-five has an impressive coaching record - he was the coach of the Crusaders from 1997-1999. Following this he was John Hart's All Blacks technical adviser from 1998-19999 before taking over the reins from 2000-2001.
In 2001 he moved to Britain to coach Northampton and in 2004 became Graham Henry's assistant working mainly as the backline coach.
Smith said he had no indication on who would be replacing him in the All Blacks camp after the World Cup. "I haven't been a part of that selection process and there is a hell of a lot of water under that bridge."
It would have been unethical to head overseas after the World Cup, hence his decision to return to coaching Super Rugby, where he guided the Crusaders to titles in 1998 and 1999.
He had rebuffed European offers in choosing to head to Chiefs country - where he grew up in Putaruru.
"I couldn't really see myself running off after the World Cup with All Blacks' game plans under the arm and going to another country. That was a factor in the decision.
"This way I get to keep working in New Zealand in the game I love ... I love coaching, I love the contest."
The 54-year-old was excited by the prospect of returning to the Waikato despite offers to coach in Europe.
"I was just asked by the Chiefs if I'd come and help. I came and talked to the family and thought 'yeah, bloody good idea, give me a chance to stay involved in a game which I love,' and probably a chance to come home for a couple of years - my parents are in their eighties and I could be close to them."
Smith said another reason for a move to the Chiefs was getting to work along side the new coaching regime.
"I like Dave Rennie and Tom Coventry, I like the way they coach, they're both winners, besides I thought it would be a lot of fun and an exciting challenge."
Smith and his wife Trish, won't be cutting all ties from Canterbury, they plan to keep their home in Christchurch and set up a new home in Cambridge.
"I'm a proud Cantabrian but I'm also a Waikato boy, so it gives me a chance to do a bit of both ... we'll have two bases really but I'm 100 per cent on board when I do a job. I'll be [in the Waikato] virtually the whole time."
Smith, who played 35 games for the All Blacks and 17 tests, won't be recruiting for the Chiefs, instead he will focus his time on working on defence and attacking patterns for the franchise.
"Firstly, I don't think I should [recruit] because of the involvement I've got with a lot of players and second to that it's Dave and Tom's role. Players know I'm going [to the Chiefs] and that Dave's there and Tom's there and if it's a positive for [a player] that's great."
Although Smith played a part in Sonny Bill Williams' move to the Crusaders. With Williams signalling the likelihood of staying in New Zealand rugby, but moving north to be closer to his mother in Auckland, Smith said he hadn't talked with the midfielder about where he should move.
"I'm sure [he] knows I'm going there but, no, I've tried to stay away from that. I did have a big influence on him coming down there which I'm a bit annoyed about now - I should have sent him to the Chiefs!"
Since the Super Rugby's inception the Chiefs have only made one finals appearance but Smith said the franchise could make the next step.
"When I was with the Crusaders I had quite a simple formula based around selecting people with character and trying to create a feeling among the players that they're keen to learn, open to new ideas and committed to the campaign."
"As soon as you get that you walk in the company of a group of people with a similar view. We never looked at how we were going to win Super Rugby, we looked at how we were going to get better everyday. The consequence of that is that we won."
Wayne Smith
Age: 54
All Blacks debut: Saturday, May 31 1980 v Sydney at Sydney, aged 23.
Last test: Saturday, November 2 1985 v Argentina at Buenos Aires, aged 28.
All Blacks tests: 17.
Test points: 6.
Coaching: Crusaders (1997-99, two Super titles), All Blacks technical adviser (1998-99), All Blacks coach (2000-01), All Blacks assistant coach 2004-2011).