Auckland, New Zealand – All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith will miss the Rugby Championship Test match against South Africa at the weekend after being suspended for breaching team standards regarding behaviour, coach Steve Hansen said Wednesday.
Hansen said Smith, capped 54 times by New Zealand, was seen entering a toilet cubicle with a female friend at Christchurch Airport the day after the Test against South Africa in the same city last month.
"As a result Smith was not considered for selection for this weekend's Durban Test," Hansen said of the player.
Smith, 27, is an integral part of the All Blacks team, having started all but two of his 54 Tests in the black jersey and enjoying the enviable record of only having lost three times at international level.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said: "This was really bad decision-making by Aaron which reflects poorly on him, and on the team."
Smith will face a misconduct hearing on his return to New Zealand.
"We are taking action to improve the culture of our game and are about to embark on an independent review of respect and responsibility in our professional player environment," said Tew.
"We have drafted the terms of reference and are currently talking to prospective panel members. We will provide an update on this shortly."
AFP