All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has paid tribute to long-time coaching partner and friend Wayne Smith following the assistant coach's final game with the New Zealand team in Brisbane last night.
Hansen took time before answering any media questions after the 23-18 loss to the Wallabies to thank Smith who announced back in May he was stepping down from his role with the All Blacks.
"He's been a wonderful servant to New Zealand rugby - particularly the All Blacks," Hansen said.
"He's a special man, a special man to coach with and I learned a lot [from him].
Smith and Hansen explained their versions of events when he sent Hansen home from training for kicking goals. (Source: Other)
"No doubt we'll miss him a lot - not just as a rugby coach but as a man also. Thanks mate."
Smith is planning a break from the game after a stellar 20-year rugby coaching career.
"It's unbelievable to think that I've been involved in playing and coaching with the All Blacks for 20 years, a third of my life," Smith said at his announcement in May.
"I've had an incredible time and shared in some fantastic experiences.
Wayne Smith announced today that he will step down from his assistant role at the All Blacks after the Rugby Championship this year. (Source: Other)
"But it's time to hang up my coach's whistle for a while, take a bit of a hiatus, freshen up and spend some more time with my wife Trish and our family."
Smith's coaching career enjoyed success at nearly every stop
After coaching the Crusaders to two Super Rugby titles in 1998 and 1999 he was given the the All Blacks reins in 2000 - and sacked the following year.
He would move to coach the Southampton Saints in 2002, before returning to New Zealand for another crack with the All Blacks.
From 2004-2011 Smith joined Graham Henry as an assistant for the All Blacks alongside Steve Hansen.
He, along with Henry and Hansen, had to fight to keep their jobs after the 2007 World Cup quarter final debacle in Cardiff.
Four years later he watched on, still as an assistant, as his All Blacks beat France 8-7 to finally win the coveted Web Ellis Cup for a second time.
He stepped aside after that, returning to Super Rugby with the Chiefs from 2012 to 2014 and helping the Waikato based franchise to two Super Rugby titles, with head coach Dave Rennie.
In 2015, the All Blacks came knocking again, with head coach Hansen reuniting his dream team with Smith to guide them to a second successive World Cup final win, this time 34-17 over Australia at Twickenham.
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