Rugby: Smith relishes captain's role for Hurricanes

Conrad Smith is keen to meet the Stormers in South Africa. Photo / Getty Images.

New Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith believes having the "c" next to his name on the team sheet could be just the tonic to invigorate him ahead of this year's Super 15 campaign.

After the highs of last year's World Cup win with the All Blacks, the centre returned to Hurricanes training today after a three-month world trip.

Smith takes over the captaincy from Andrew Hore after the All Blacks rake was one of a host of players to leave the franchise over the past year.

"It's an exciting challenge and sometimes you need those things when you've played a while and you've been in the same teams," Smith said of the captaincy.

"I don't know, without that challenge it could've been a hard year to get up for. I don't know what the other boys are feeling after the highs of last year, but for me it's quickly forgotten and there's a pretty huge challenge in front of myself and the team.

"It's something that's exciting, it's what we play footy for, I suppose."

Smith said his style of leadership would centre on getting senior players in the squad involved.

"I think having played under some pretty handy captains, I realise that you don't have to try and change too much. You just have to make sure you have got good people around you ...

"I was given a bit of captaincy at different levels through my career and sometimes when you're inexperienced it gets to you a little bit and you try to do things that you shouldn't.

"But I think this time, having been around a little bit longer ... you just get good people around you and you work with your coaches and other senior guys and you really rely on them and then you just try to play. That way you get the best out of your team."

The Hurricanes play the Crusaders in a pre-season game in Mangatainoka on Saturday, following their 36-22 loss to the Blues in Whangarei last weekend.

Smith won't play this weekend and didn't know when his first outing as captain would be, but was keen to be on the plane to South Africa to meet the Stormers in their first Super Rugby game of the season on the last weekend in February.

"I've only just started training ... but I'm not ruling it out. I'd love to be involved. It's just how my body is. If I'm not right, if I'm still a yard off the pace, then there's no point. But I'd love, especially being captain, to be out there early on."

One who will be back this weekend, however, is fellow World Cup-winner Cory Jane. The utility back said he wanted to put last year's disastrous Super 15 campaign behind him.

"Last year I had a shocker," he said. "I'm just going to go out there and play some rugby and enjoy myself and back myself. So if people want to follow, then great."

One thing Jane, who turns 29 tomorrow, didn't lose over the summer break was his sense of humour. The avid Twitter user provided an interesting take on what it would be like to be captained by Smith.

"I think there's one year age gap between me and him but mentally there's about 20 years difference, so he'll be good," Jane joked. APNZ