George Smith: The BiographyAllen & Unwin, 2011 - 326 Seiten George Smith is one of the greatest players Australian rugby has ever produced, and certainly one of the all-time best, open-side flankers in the world arena. After becoming the fourth Wallaby and the 10th in the history of the game worldwide to reach a century of Tests, Smith went on to earn 110 Test caps for Australia. Throughout his career he bedazzled crowds - and more importantly, the opposition - with the tactical brilliance, technique and physicality in his game. A relentless and supremely skilful terrier, he was spectacularly targeted by opponents as the player they had to close down but through all such storms Smith responded heroically. His glorious career included numerous best and fairest player awards in both Test and Super rugby where he played his entire career with the Canberra-based Brumbies. He also played in two World Cups - in 2003 and 2007 - and starred in numerous Test wins in the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations series, as well as in the Wallabies' stunning series victory over the British and Irish Lions when they toured to Australia in 2001. He became the 75th Wallabies captain, leading Australia for the first time in the 2007 World Cup against Canada in Bordeaux and on a number of occasions afterwards. But for Smith, an errant youth who'd been seduced by a bad crowd on Sydney's northern beaches, life could have turned out disastrously, barely before it started. He was raised in a Tongan family as one of nine siblings and after his expulsion from Balgowlah Boys High School it was this Tongan heritage, in the end, which proved to be his salvation. The dramatic road he's followed since, throughout a stellar amateur and professional rugby career, has been littered with pot holes. Some he fell into. Others he avoided. But, as in rugby, in life it's how one responds that really counts. |
Inhalt
1 | |
13 | |
Early days to the super break | 21 |
Canberra | 33 |
With a few potholes | 52 |
The Tri NationsBledisloe Cup | 64 |
First picture section | 86 |
Super 12 glory to the lions roar | 89 |
The dollars and sense | 174 |
Second picture section | 174 |
The last Wallabies tour | 184 |
Third picture section | 214 |
Waugh to McCaw and more | 220 |
A long time coming | 235 |
A change for the good | 270 |
The journey continues | 296 |
The Nucifora years | 101 |
Off the field as much as on | 109 |
20012003 | 116 |
20062007 | 132 |
Only in his mind | 143 |
From Fisher to Friend 20052010 | 157 |
A career well played | 304 |
Bibliography | 318 |
Acknowledgments | 319 |
Other books by Rupert Guinness | 322 |
Index of Names | 323 |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
2007 World Cup Australia backrower ball Beat bench Blacks Bledisloe Cup Boudjellal Brett Robinson Brisbane Brumbies Canberra captain captaincy career club Connolly Crusaders David despite dreadlocks Eddie Jones England enjoyed Ewen McKenzie felt final football France Freier George Gregan George recalls George says George Smith collection George's going guys half-back Irish Lions jersey John Eales kick knew lineout Lost Louise Macqueen Manly match Matt Giteau McCaw McKenzie Melbourne minutes never night Nucifora openside flanker Owen Finegan Phil Thomson Phil Waugh play players Pocock pretty realised Robbie Deans rugby league scrum season sessions side South Africa spring tour Springboks squad Stadium started Stephen Larkham Stirling Mortlock Super 12 Super rugby sure Sydney teammates Test debut things Tongan Toulon Tri Nations Tuqiri Tyrone Wales Wallabies Wallabies coach wanted Waratahs week Wilkinson Zealand وو