Smith on 'stand-by' for World Cup
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Wallabies legend George Smith has been put on 'stand-by' for the World Cup by coach Michael Cheika.
The 111-Test veteran was not named in the 40-man Wallabies squad for the Rugby Championship, but has reportedly been sounded out by Cheika to provide loose forward cover should they suffer any more injuries in that area.
With the Wallabies having recently relaxed their eligibility rules concerning overseas-based players, experienced backline stars Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell were both named in Cheika's squad, and it now appears that Smith, who played his last Test match against the British and Irish Lions in 2013, has a chance of ending his international career at the World Cup.
Smith signed a one-year deal with Wasps, and Director of Rugby Dai Young confirmed that he will not prevent him from playing at the World Cup should he get the call-up from Cheika.
“When we signed him that wasn’t part of the deal, so they’ve changed the goalposts. We didn’t know that we might lose him for the start of the season,” Young said.
“But being an ex-player, I wouldn’t want to stop someone playing at a World Cup. Even if that wasn’t my mindset, it is clearly stated you can’t stop a player from playing international rugby.
“He’s on stand-by, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that nobody gets injured, but George has got half an eye on it because it would be an unexpected bonus for him.
“If he does go to the World Cup, it’s something we’d deal with. He would certainly go with my blessing,” he added.
Although he might lose his services during the World Cup, Young said that the 34-year-old is keen to make his mark in the Premiership.
“He was pretty much man of the match in every game for Lyon last season and brings that hard edge to everything he does. George has never played in the Premiership and did not want to die wondering if he could play here. He could have got more elsewhere but he wanted to contribute on and off the field to Wasps,” he said.
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