Aaron Smith has admitted the prospect of tackling a full-speed Julian Savea in an international match is something he'd happily not think about too much heading into this weekend's game between the All Blacks and Barbarians.
Smith told media today teammates had been watching Savea recently at his destructive best in the Mitre 10 Cup - the same sort of form he's had for most of his All Blacks career which has led to 46 tries in 54 Tests.
"After what I've been seeing lately and how he went on the weekend, a few of us have had a few chats like, 'Jesus, the Bus is coming!'," he said.
"He has been playing really well. Guys like that are nightmares, especially for guys like me. I am 80kg and he is 106!"
Savea will line up against the All Blacks for the first time after being confirmed in the Barbarians squad this morning by Kiwi coaches Robbie Deans and Scott Robertson.
Smith said experiences playing against Savea in Super Rugby may help but the reality is they expect Savea to come with a bit more gusto on Sunday morning at Twickenham.
The winger will face the All Blacks after he was an omission from their end of year tour squad.
"There are little parts of the game where you are thinking, 'god I hope he doesn't get that opportunity' – he is just trying to be a dream-ender. I've been on the back-end of him a couple of times.
Smith was then teased by reporters about the outcome of a one-on-one situation between the pair on the blindside of a ruck or scrum.
"If I hit I would just bounce off, and you don’t want to piss him off either, so what do you do?
"Low, hard, in the spokes and hope he falls over!"
The All Blacks play the Barbarians at 2:30am NZT on Sunday.
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