38:
364:, leading to the unusual situation of simultaneous All Black series in different countries. "The New Zealand Rugby Union ... decided that the 1949 matches against Australia would have full test status, even though the country's top 30 players were in South Africa. One of the reasons for the decision was to not deprive test caps to three of the All Blacks, Johnny Smith,
449:, New Zealand in 1922. He attended Kaikohe Primary and then Kaikohe District High School. He was one of three children. His father Leslie was a baker who had served in World War I and played rugby for both South Auckland and North Island Country. His mother, Niria Takiwira, belonged to the Te Uri-o-Hua
352:
but Māori players, including Smith, were excluded from the squad. The rugby unions of New
Zealand and South Africa, and the South African government, have since apologised for this selection policy which was implemented at the South Africans' request by the NZRFU, "claiming it did not want to subject
318:
Smith only played nine matches for the All Blacks, including four tests. His entire All Black career consists of series in or against
Australia in 1946, 1947, and 1949. There were no All Black tests in 1948, and the only other opponent New Zealand faced during Smith's time in the All Blacks was South
301:
player, soldier, sportsman and baker. He was an All Black captain, and despite only playing nine matches (including four tests) is recognised as a great. His 26 appearances for the Second New
Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team (known as the Kiwis), which toured the UK in 1946–47, earned him high
375:
Smith captained the All Black sides that faced
Australia. Both tests were lost (including one on 3 September—the same day that the Springboks beat New Zealand in Durban). They were the last All Black matches that Smith played. He was selected to play Australia again in 1952, but withdrew through
327:
Smith played the
Australians twice during this tour—first as captain of a victorious North Auckland side (32–19), then as a member of the first All Black side since 1938. At Carisbrook in Dunedin, Smith scored a try in a 31–8 test victory. He did not play in the second test two weeks later.
392:. Against the Lions he nearly scored a try that would have won the game, but was controversially ruled to have knocked the ball on. He was captain later in 1950 when North Auckland won the
612:
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them to possible reprisals". Smith's official All Black profile now attributes his non-selection to "the unforgivable weakness shown by New
Zealand rugby in meeting South Africa's
460:
In 1946 he married
Dorothy Robinson. They had four children, three of whom survived him (along with Dorothy) when he died in 1974. His son Glen won a national swimming title.
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The official All Blacks profile published for Smith states that "there is little argument that Smith rates among the greatest midfield players ever produced in New
Zealand".
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Smith's wide-ranging sporting ability led to a national junior tennis title in the 1938-39 doubles (with Allan Burns), appearances for the
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who were not considered for the South
African tour because they were Maori. All three would surely have otherwise gone to South Africa."
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was Smith's only trip away with the All Blacks. He made another single test appearance in a two-match test series.
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613:"Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Māori All Blacks' hurtful and racist exclusion from South African rugby tours"
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388:, his last in 1954. He captained the province regularly, including against Australia (1946) and the
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Smith was recognised as
Northland Legend of Sport at the Northland Sports Awards in 2005.
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In 2014, rugby writer Wynne Gray included Smith in his '100 Greatest All Blacks'.
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In 1956, Smith coached North Auckland, and also served as a selector.
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The All Blackography: The indispensable guide to every All Black
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666:. Auckland, New Zealand: Moa Publications. pp. 150, 151.
297:(26 September 1922 – 3 December 1974) was a New Zealand
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Africa, in a series from which Māori players were excluded.
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Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987).
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562:. Auckland, New Zealand: Upstart Press. p. 467.
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638:. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett. p. 252.
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Century in Black: 100 years of All Black test rugby
590:. Auckland, N.Z.: Hodder Moa Beckett. p. 184.
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Century in Black: 100 years of All Black test rugby
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396:for the first time, defeating South Canterbury.
350:All Blacks toured apartheid South Africa in 1949
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830:New Zealand military personnel of World War II
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116:79 kg (174 lb; 12 st 6 lb)
855:New Zealand international rugby union players
407:In 1949 Smith was the first recipient of the
696:. The Northern Advocate. via nzherald.co.nz
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323:1946 Australia tour of New Zealand
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108:1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
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302:praise. He also played for the
692:Eves, Tim (26 November 2005).
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1:
850:Northland rugby union players
715:Grey, Wynne (24 April 2015).
694:"Best centre ever 'bar none'"
611:Smith, Tony (25 March 2021).
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18:Johnny Smith (disambiguation)
384:Smith played 41 matches for
362:Australia toured New Zealand
124:Kaikohe District High School
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453:of Ngāpuhi. His brother
441:Personal and family life
200:Provincial / State sides
457:was also an All Black.
865:New Zealand cricketers
634:Palenski, Ron (2003).
586:Palenski, Ron (2003).
558:Palenski, Ron (2014).
435:Northland cricket team
418:Posthumous recognition
390:British Lions (1950)
243:International career
16:For other uses, see
860:Rugby union centres
840:People from Kaikohe
785:Tom French Memorial
490:"Smith, John Burns"
129:Notable relative(s)
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743:"John Burns Smith"
721:New Zealand Herald
140:Rugby union career
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794:Succeeded by
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529:Knight, Lyndsay.
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25:Rugby player
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820:1974 deaths
815:1922 births
403:Recognition
370:Vince Bevan
306:, being of
299:rugby union
274:New Zealand
150:Position(s)
133:Peter Smith
809:Categories
464:References
62:1922-09-25
48:Birth name
30:John Smith
779:New award
366:Ben Couch
355:apartheid
310:descent.
135:(brother)
758:23 April
726:2 August
700:2 August
619:25 March
540:2 August
499:2 August
376:injury.
264:(Points)
221:(Points)
182:(Points)
98:Auckland
773:Awards
615:. Stuff
447:Kaikohe
308:Ngāpuhi
270:1946–49
227:1946–54
190:Kaikohe
75:Kaikohe
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155:Centre
121:School
113:Weight
105:Height
791:1949
455:Peter
336:This
249:Years
206:Years
167:Years
760:2017
728:2015
702:2015
668:ISBN
640:ISBN
621:2021
592:ISBN
564:ISBN
542:2015
501:2015
451:hapū
368:and
348:The
259:Apps
254:Team
216:Apps
211:Team
177:Apps
172:Team
281:(6)
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
