All Blacks: Boks shattered Smith's teenage viewing

All Blacks centre Conrad Smith is still coming to terms with the 1995 World Cup final loss to South Africa. Photo / New Zealand Herald

CENTURION - Forget about the 2007 failure, All Blacks centre Conrad Smith is still coming to terms with the 1995 World Cup rugby stumble.

Smith's childhood rugby memories got another airing to the media ahead of Sunday morning's (NZT) Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Having previously waxed lyrical about the flamboyant French backs of the 1980s and 90s and their impact on his career, this time he remembered his best and worst from Springboks-All Blacks clashes.

The low was the World Cup final loss to South Africa in Johannesburg, the 15-12 defeat in overtime a thudding blow to 13-year-old Smith, huddled in front of the TV at an ungodly hour.

"The whole family got up - and I was pretty young. Me and my sister made a banner for the lounge and watched the game I don't think I wanted to get out of bed for the next couple of days ... it still hurts," he said.

"It was such an awesome World Cup until then. It was amazing with Jonah (Lomu) and everything and so many great performances and then to crash and burn..."

Smith felt there was a hole in rugby-watching life until South Africa emerged from isolation in 1992. His father and uncles always talked about the scale of the rivalry against New Zealand but he wanted to see it for himself.

"When I was real young it was the All Blacks played the Australians in the Bledisloe Cup ... but it is the ultimate challenge to come over here as an All Black to play South Africa."

Last year was the first time Smith had played a test in South Africa, part of the 19-0 triumph at Cape Town. It was a special milestone in his life and something he will repeat on Sunday morning (NZT) in the Tri-Nations test at Bloemfontein.

"I just loved that. All the guys always talked about it and coming over. It is a big challenge but it is something that makes you want to make the team and experience it."

The hostility of the grounds in South Africa was the most unique element of any visit because there are rarely more than a handful of New Zealand supporters on hand - not the black blanket of expats that can usually be found nowadays at tests in Australia or Europe.

- NZPA