MUNSTER HAVE BEEN through a fair few centres in the last decade, and Andrew Smith is the latest man to spend a short stint with the southern province before moving on again.
The Australian will leave Munster after a single season under Anthony Foley, disappointed not to be staying on but fully aware that this is the reality of the professional game.
He’ll head away with fond memories of his time here, all the more so if the province can win the Guinness Pro12 by beating Glasgow Warriors in Belfast on Saturday evening. Not too many Munster centres boast a league medal on their CVs.
“I’ve had a very enjoyable year,” said Smith at Thomond Park on Tuesday. “It’s definitely been an experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s a great set-up, it’s a great club, and to have the opportunity to win a trophy this week is massive for us.
[I'm] definitely disappointed [not to be staying], but that’s just the way rugby works these days and I’ve no problems with that.”
Munster is just Smith’s second professional club/province, having previously been with the Brumbies in his native Australia from 2008 onwards. He won 50 Super Rugby caps for the Canberra-based franchise, 16 of which came in an exceptional 2012 campaign.
Now, while maintaining his focus on the Pro12 final, he’s in the process of tying up loose ends in his adopted home of Cork and locating club number three, one he hopes is based in Europe.
“I think so,” said Smith when asked if he’s keen to remain in this part of the world.
“I’ve got a young family at the moment, so we’re weighing up what we’re going to do with that. But I’ve really enjoyed my time in Europe and I’d probably be looking to stay over here, that’s probably the short-term plan at the moment.”
Having first come to the attention of the Brumbies by excelling for club side Northern Suburbs, Smith was obviously far more versed in the Australian way of rugby before signing for Munster.
His instincts had been honed in a more free-flowing, offloading and attacking rugby culture, meaning he has undergone an adaptation process in Ireland.
“It is a little bit slower, it is a little bit more forwards-based, but it’s so hard to compare the two,” said Smith of Northern Hemisphere game in contrast to Super Rugby.
“I guess something over here is that the breakdown is the crucial thing. For a back, that’s very important here and getting the go-forward ball. Getting strong carries and being strong in the breakdown are probably the big things over here for all backs, while back at home you can just hang wide and wait for the ball to come to you.
“You don’t get too involved at times, but here you’ve always got to be looking to hit a breakdown or help a forward out with their carry. It’s just subtle differences.”
The 29-year-old has played 17 times for Munster in the Pro12 this season in the build-up to the final, as well as starting three games in a Champions Cup campaign that ended in utter disappointment.
In recent times, Smith’s partnership with Denis Hurley in midfield has looked more intuitive, perfectly in time for the end-of-season decider.
“It has. I guess like any player the more you start to play with him, the more you understand them and understand what they’re good at, how you can work with them, work off them.
“I’ve played most of the year now with Denis and it’s something we’ve been developing and something that’s come along quite well.”
One last outing for the pair of imposing centres together, before Smith heads off for another adventure, hoping he enjoys it as much as this one with Munster.
